Spain meets California in our Tinto Rey Tempranillo. Spicy old-world flavors play nicely with the bright juiciness of Dunnigan Hills fruit.
94 Points from Wine Enthusiast: "This concentrated, complex wine is not overtly fruity, but draws interest from the first whiffs of black olive, rosemary and beef jus, backed by firm tannins and focused, tight blueberry and cranberry flavors. EDITORS' CHOICE"
The heritage of the three Tempranillo clones in our Matchbook vineyards is pure Spanish: Ribera del Duero, Rioja and Tinta de Toro. Those old-world vines thrive in the Dunnigan Hills offering up true varietal flavors with a California flair. Our 2019 Tinto Rey Tempranillo has fresh aromas of red berries mixed with tobacco and sweet vanilla oak. The flavors are a juicy snap of plum, blueberry, blackberry and cherry cola. Deep mocha and bittersweet chocolate add a richness to the texture that lingers in the finish.
Vineyard Designation
Dunnigan Hills
Winemaker Notes
Our grapes were gently crushed and fermented in small temperature controlled stainless-steel tanks. Specially selected yeast (Assmannshausen and ES488) was used on two of five tanks to enhance color and flavor extraction without harsh tannins. The other three tanks underwent a native fermentation, giving this wine complexity and richness. The tanks were pumped over two to three times a day until nearly dry, then pressed and aged in oak barrels for 29 months. We like to use an assortment of French, Hungarian and American Oak and only 22% new to avoid over-oaking.
Pairings
Tempranillo is a versatile red that pairs well with paella, smoky ribs or shellfish in a garlicy sauce.