- VineLines Dispatch: Harvest surrounding Lake Chelan
- Northwest restaurateurs purchase Basel Cellars in Walla Walla
- Hayden Homes CEO buys interest in Pepper Bridge, Amavi wineries
- Walla Walla Community College to receive $15 million gift from MacKenzie Scott
- Brian Carter Cellars adds Latin influence with marketing hire
- VineLines Dispatch: A Gorgeous look at harvest
- Goose Ridge hires Peter Devison as winemaking consultant
- Tri-City winemaker Palencia partners on Culture Shock mobile catering
- Armstrong Family Winery turns Discovery Vineyard Syrah into best wine at Great Northwest Invitational
- VineLines Dispatch: Harvest of Walla Walla Valley
Tempranillo enjoying growing fame in Northwest
Red Lily Vineyards 2012 Red Blanket Tempranillo, Rogue Valley, $22
Of the six expressions of Tempranillo she releases, this is Rachael Martin’s largest — accounting for about 25 percent of the total production at the Southern Oregon native’s winery near Jacksonville. She incorporates Cabernet Sauvignon (21%) and uses a 21-month barrel program dominated by French oak — and a third of the wood is fresh out of the wrapper. The nose expresses Bing cherry, red currant and dark plum, backed by wild rose, pepper and pleasing oak spice. There’s a nice approach of dark red fruit joined by mouthfilling but managed tannins akin to blueberry skins. That pleasing texture and balance is capped by loganberry and lingering Montmorency cherry. It’s the fifth vintage for this proprietary blend, yet the Martins continue to hold firm on the price of their approachable entry-level Tempranillo.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 750 cases
Alcohol: 13.9%
0 comments