Cinder Wines 2011 Tempranillo, Snake River Valley, $28
Rhône varieties and this Iberian red are specialties of Idaho homegrown winemaker Melanie Krause, and this Temp ranks among the most approachable produced in the Pacific Northwest. She sources from the Snake River Valley’s first site for the grape — Sawtooth Vineyard — as well as Rocky Fence Vineyard near the Payette River and Martin Brothers Vineyard on the Oregon side of the AVA. It presents a nose of blueberry, cherry and huckleberry that includes pleasing accents of crushed herbs, sweet oak and orange peel. Cherries and huckleberries come back as flavors that splash about in cranberry acidity. The fine-grained tannins have been sorted out nicely before the finish of blackberry and cigar leaf. Krause and her family enjoy pairing their Temp with strongly flavored meats, Cornish game hen, mushrooms and garlic-based dishes. And earlier this spring, Cinder received a gold medal and best of class award for this release at the Sunset International Wine Competition.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 210 cases
Alcohol: 13.4%
Ray Grinberg says
What about Daven Lore Tempranillo?
Andy Perdue says
Hi, Ray. We tasted the DavenLore 2011 Tempranillo about nine months ago and enjoyed it. This list includes Tempranillos we’ve tasted more recently.
Mark Stanley says
Hi Andy
I have been making Tempranillo from the Sugar Loaf Vineyard almost every year since 2008. Every vintage has been good. This is a variety that has great potential for WA. The Sugar Loaf site is superb, but I think it is doing well in other WA areas as well. The varietal expression here in WA seems to be more fuller bodied than the typical Rioja or Ribera.
WA Viticulturests–plant Tempranillo!
P.S. Look for my new book to be published in August on Amazon “Creating World Class Red Wine” by Mark Stanley
Andy Perdue says
Mark, thanks for the note. Sugarloaf is a terrific vineyard, especially for one that is so young. We’re seeing a lot of wines carrying the Sugarloaf designation.
And we’re excited to see where Tempranillo goes in Washington. It’s unlikely to ever be a major player, but it could well be a niche role player, much like Sangiovese and Grenache.
Jeff Gordon says
I agree with Mark. The first time I tried our Tempranillo I noticed a bigger body. I would caution people on getting sold on this variety. We may like it here but you get out of the Northwest, for the most part, people want Spanish or South American Tempranillo, not something from Washington.
Jeff Gordon