Telmo Rodriguez Pago la Jara 2005

This is the top wine from Toro for Telmo Rodriguez and it must be hardest bottle in the world to take a photo of, its a good thing that the wine is bloody good. Toro generally grows big and bold fruit that can handle plenty of oak, so there is always a temptation to bung the wine in loads of new, high toast oak. As a result there are some oak milkshake type wines that come out of Toro, however this wine fruit shows through with great pruity and plenty of earthy, gamey character. There is some expertly handled oak in there too, but it’s aiming for best supporting actor, not the big gong.

Very dark in the glass, with a purple rim. The nose is off and going from the start: gamey dark cherry, blackberry, sarsaparilla, a shake of black pepper with some rose and violet high notes. In the mouth the tannins slowly build into big, soft things followed up by some minerally acid. A bit tight in the mouth, but showing show meaty, juby dark cherry with some sars, espresso coffee, and sage. A good long finish with a herbal note wraps it all up. It has all the stuffing to go well in the cellar for 3-4 years then drink well over the following 10. 94+ Pts.

Source: The Spanish Acquisition Cost: $130 Closure: Conventional Cork

Back Pocket Wines Castanets 2007

The Granite Belt region in Queensland seems to have had quite a few acres of Tempranillo planted over the past 5 or so years.  This wine is made from 5 year old vines in the joven style, with partial carbonic maceration.  The vines are D8V12 clone, which is a UC Davis clone and seems to be the main clone in use in Australia at the moment.  I'd be interested to hear from anyone using a different clone in Australia, as there is surely more available (there are something like 200+ clones of Tempranillo in Spain).

Deep red in colour with purple to the rim.  The wine opened up with a bit of rubber and nuts on the nose, however this blew off in a few minutes to reveal some earthy blackberry and cherry pie.  In the mouth it shows a very correct expression of a joven Tempranillo: savoury red cherry and blackberry with dusty tannins.  Fairly good balance, the acid pokes out a little at this stage.  But all in all a very encouraging example.  86 Pts.

Source: Winery Sample Price: $19 Closure: Screwcap

Web: www.backpocket.com.au

Mr. Riggs Tempranillo 2005

The Adelaide Hills region is producing some outstanding Tempranillo based wines.  I liked the 2004 edition of this wine, but the 05 is a step up again.  I can't tell if its the vines getting older, a good season in 2005 or different wine making, but Mr. Riggs has made a very good tempranillo with varietal definition and structure.

Deep red, with a ruby edge.  Coffee, rhubarb and cherry on the nose, a few flakes of dark chocolate sprinkled in for good measure.  The very smooth and silky texture captures your mouth straight away.  Tart dark cherry and  blackberry on the palate with some licorice and spice.  The 15% alc raises its head above the parapet with a bit of heat that adds a cherry liquor flavour. Nice sandy tannins and a spike of acid on the medium length finish. Overall, very enjoyable and drinkable. I'd like a bit less alcohol, but as the wine builds in the glass it disappears into the background.  90 Pts.

Source: Boccaccio Cellars RRP: $25 Closure: Screwcap

Web: www.mrriggs.com.au

Pindarie Bar Rossa 2006

Anthony at Baccaccio Cellars put this aside for me months ago. Luckily he runs a booze shop and isn't hard pressed to find something to take home to drink with dinner.  

Its been in the press a bit this wine, and it deserves it.  An unusual blend of 70% Tempranillo, 25% Sangiovese and 5% shiraz that is ready to go as soon as you rip the screwcap off. 

Deep red in colour with a purple tint.  The nose is quiet for the most part, a bit of earth and spice with light red berry fruit.  In the mouth is where all the action is.  Its brimming with soft tannins that give the wine a great mouthfeel, plum and dark cherry fruit jubes.  Overall its a savory wine that's not afraid to show some fruit and would be perfect with anything hot of the BBQ. Great value.  88 Pts.

Source: Boccaccio Cellars RRP: Around $20 Closure: Screwcap

Web: www.pindarie.com.au

Pondalowie Vineyard Blend 2004

I have written about how good the wines being made at Pondalowie are, so I won't harp on about that.  This wine is a blend of  Cabernet, Shiraz and 20% Tempranillo and sees some time in american and french oak.  The addition of tempranillo to the classic aussie blend really works well if this wine is anything to go by.

A nice nose of mulberry, a bit of cherry and toasty oak.  Medium bodied and savory in the mouth, the wine is really well balanced and satisfying.  Really good fruit, tart cherry and mulbery fruit is enhanced with a bit of undergrowth and spice. With more time a great plum character makes it self known, adding to the complexity.  Soft tannins and a medium finish.  I drank this in no time, its very morish - you will need at least two bottles.  You will be hard pressed to find better value for $20.  91 Pts.

Source: Winery Sample RRP: $20 Closure: Screwcap

Web: www.pondalowie.com.au

Samuel’s Gorge Tempranillo 2005

Mclaren Vale is well known for lush, full wines with loads of tannin and fruit.  This one is no exception.  It's not over the top however, quite subtle in flavor actually.  There is no new oak treatment, and the wine is all the better for it.  This is the second release of Tempranillo for this label. 

Some really appealing aromas of red berry fruit, earth and mocha as the bottle is opened, the colour is a solid deep red.  Velvety and savory in the mouth, there is some lush dark fruit that coats my mouth and matches very well with the tannin and acid profile.  Well balanced and a medium finish.  Very McLaren Vale with a lot of tempranillo character.  90 Pts.

Source: Winery Sample RRP: $35 Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.gorge.com.au

Mount Majura Tempranillo 2003

I've heard a lot about the Tempranillo produced by the crew at Mount Majura, all very good things of course.  The Canberra region is very similar in climate to Rioja Alta, 600-700 meters in elevation, warm enough to get the grapes ripe but very much cool climate.  Even the soil types are similar, clay loam with a bit of limestone and volcanic material. 

Thats all good in theory, a lot of places are similar to Rioja and produce average wine.  If you open up a bottle of this stuff you'll find that the theory seems to work in this case.  This is a spectacular wine.  This may sound a little over the top, but if this wine from young vines is anything to go buy, this producer will do great things with Tempranillo. 

The wine is a dark cherry colour with a purple tint.  Aromas of dark cherry, licorice and anise with some leather and rose oil.  Savory and beautifully balanced in the mouth with good acid and supple tannins.  The oak treatment is very discrete and controlled.  Great gobs of concentrated black current and cherry fruit in mouth followed up with a bit of liquorice.  The finish is quite long and shows of the soft tannins.  How good? Bloody good. 92 Pts.

Source: Winestar Price: $25 Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.mountmajura.com.au 

Nepenthe Tempranillo 2004

The more tempranillo based wines I see from the Adelaide Hills, the more I think it is an ideal location for producing Rioja style wines.  This is the forth release of tempranillo by the chaps at Nepenthe and they seem to have nailed it. 

One thing I have noticed with many of the Australian tempranillo based wines is that they need some time to open up, especially those that have seen some time in wood.  A bit of bottle age would would probably help as well, so it looks like it will be well worth your time putting some of this in the cellar.

Deep cherry in colour, the nose has great aromas of ripe cherry, a bit of mulberry, leather with some rosemary and sage.  Nice weight in the mouth, the tannins are fine and develop a nice texture with some air.  More ripe fruit in the mouth, dark cherry. After a couple of hours the palate really develops with liquorice and spice adding complexity.  Nicely balanced with a healthy shot of acid.  You could confuse this for a good, modern Rioja very easily.  90 Pts.

Source: Winery Sample RRP: $25 Closure: Screwcap

Web: www.nepenthe.com.au

Delatite Tempranillo 2004

Delatite seem to like walking on a slightly different path, they use a host of 'non-standard' varieties and are perhaps known best for their Dead Man's Hill Gewurztraminer.  So it's good to see them branching out with a Tempranillo as well.

This wine is made from grapes grown about 30Kms north of Mansfield in Victoria.  The wine sees 18 months in French oak before its bottled. 

Deep, dark and inky in the glass.  A nice nose of blackberry and cherry liquor with subtle creamy oak oak notes.  It comes over smooth and textured in the mouth, a bit short on acid, but the tannins are fine and add to the long finish.  Quite savory and would be a real treat with food.  Concentrated dark cherry on the palate and some licorice all-sorts with more air, vanilla and licorice.  Certainly heading in the right direction I think, I'm looking forward to future releases from these guys.  88 Pts.

Source: Winery Sample RRP: $29 Closure: Screwcap

Web: www.delatitewinery.com.au

Yendah Tempranillo 2005

Yendah is made by those enterprising people at Casella wines (yes, the people who make [yellow tail]).  The Yendah range seems to be based of Mediterranean varieties and the wines are made to be food friendly.   

The nose opens up with dark cherry and a fair bit of chary, vanilla oak and tobacco.  Very easy to drink, rounded and medium bodied with a low level of acid and soft, drying tannins on the finish.  The palate delivers a similar story to the nose, dark cherry fruit with tobacco and oak, but adds some chocolate and medicinal herbs.  It's not very varietal and there is a bit of sweetness to it, but if you find yourself at the barbie with a couple of good quality chili snags, a glass of this in your hand would be pretty good. 85 Pts.

Source: Winery Sample RRP: $16 Closure: Screwcap

Web: www.casellawines.com.au