Palencia Wine Co. 2013 El Viñador Tempranillo, Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley, $40
One of Victor Palencia’s most prized bottlings hails from La Famiglia Vineyard and servers as a tribute to his father – “The Vineyard Worker” – and his version with this early-ripening Spanish red in one of Washington’s cooler regions shows skill. Bright cherry and strawberry candy aromas include lots of blackberry, black olive, peppermint and freshly split cedar. There’s the expected quick greeting of frontal tannins on the palate as cherry, blackberry and dark chocolate fill in rapidly. The medium long finish carries hints of Douglas fir and cocoa powder. What began as a limited release for wine club now is available in Palencia’s Walla Walla tasting room, and it seems poised to become a dynamite wine starting in three years.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 75 cases
Alcohol: 14.5%
Leave a Reply