Feb 22 2010

Berberana Dragon Tempranillo (Spain, 2006)

Category: TempranilloMike @ 4:00 pm
This is a Tempranillo from Spain that we picked up at Total Wine and had it with homemade tortilla soup with fresh avocado and tortilla strips.
$8 from Total Wine
Two and a Half Trophies
  • Smells like bubble gum initially with dark berries in the middle followed my mint at the finish.
  • Taste is very tart.
  • One dimensional plumb flavors.  Improved greatly with decanting.
  • This wine is easy to drink and does not offend… Sort of like a macro-brewed beer… it feels mass produced to appeal to a wide variety of tastes.
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Apr 04 2009

Campo Viejo Crianza Tempranillo (Spain, 2005)

Category: TempranilloMike @ 9:33 am
Campo Viejo Crianza Tempranillo This is a Tempranillo from the Rioja region in Spain.  We have really been digging Rioja wines recently (even though not all our tastings have made it into real justagrape reviews!), so I wanted to give this one a shot when I saw it on the shelf.
$11 from Bashas
Four Trophies
  • Strong strawberry and vanilla smells; Very sweet.
  • Smooth yet dry.
  • Slightly woody and plumb taste with a nice long finish.
  • Great foot wine, you can eat a solid meal with this one.
  • This wine is a well written plot to a good movie…. it has it’s highs and lows, but in the end it all comes together just right.
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Feb 21 2009

Albero Tempranillo (Spain, 2006)

Category: TempranilloMike @ 8:30 am
No Bottle Image Available This is an organic Tempranillo from Spain.  I hadn’t browsed the wine isle at T.J.’s in a while and was intrigued to find an organic Tempranillo from Spain there.  There is also a Cabernet from Albero that we want to review as well.  Jason has some more insights as to the origin of this wine and a review as well.  Overall we were pleased with this $6 wine and would buy it again.
$6 from Trader Joes
Three and a Half Trophies
  • Strong cherry aroma with hints of vanilla.
  • Decent balance, with a weak short finish.
  • Simple and pleasant, but lacks any enjoyable complexity.
  • Chocolate on the finish.
  • This wine like having the Monday of a long weekend off… you’re really happy to have the day off but you don’t really do anything really exciting or very interesting.
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Dec 02 2008

La Parra Loca (Spain, 2006)

Category: TempranilloEddie @ 6:56 pm
No Bottle Image Available I picked this wine up because I was having blackened salmon for dinner.  I figured a nice Tempranillo would go great with this spicy fish dish.  The wine is actually a blend of Tempranillo and Shiraz.  The label even recommended that it be served with spicy fish dishes.  The label also informed me that I would be tasting intense black fruit flavors and hints of vanilla and spice.  Unfortunately, I did not taste any of these things.  The wine was quite bland but it did hold up well to the spicy fish.  In fact, the only reason it got 1.5 trophies instead of 1 was because it did hold up to the dinner.  The only way I would recommend this wine would be with a meal that was quite hearty, spicy and flavorful.  On its own the flavors were boring and muddled.
$7 from Fresh & Easy
One and a Half Trophies


  • Muddled and indecisive
  • Smooth in the mouth yet harsh when swallowed.
  • Lingering bitter tastes like that of grape seeds
  • On the tip of the tongue it was sweet like blackberries but soured towards the back of the mouth
  • Like going to a nice Spanish restaurant and expecting an exotic and enchanting meal but ending up with fried rice and dried beef.
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Jul 16 2008

Torres Coronas Tempranillo (Spain, 2004)

Category: TempranilloMike @ 8:27 am
No Bottle Image Available This is a tempranillo from Spain. This was another of our 4th of July wines that we had that day.
$10 from Fresh & Easy
Four Trophies
  • Aromas of leather with a hint of peppermint behind it
  • Earthy and woody in the initial taste
  • A lot of tannins, even after decanting for 1 hour.
  • Hearty and robust – would be great with a steak.
  • A very intensely masculine wine would be akin to fighting a bull….or running with them…neither is one you would want to do on our own. So to is this wine…it must be paired with a rich and hearty meal in order to be fully enjoyed.
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Apr 25 2008

La Vendimia Rioja (Spain, 2006)

Category: BlendMike @ 2:07 pm
La Vendimia Rioja This wine is a Rioja from Spain and is a blend of Garnacha and Tempranillo.
$16 from Dish in Scottsdale
Four Trophies
  • Smells like flowers.
  • Sweet off the start but ends up being very well balanced.
  • Great for lighter dishes, wouldn’t hold up well to steak or pasta.
  • Smooth and flavorful, not overpowering.
  • Light, happy, and enjoyable all on its own…like taking a nap on a hammock in your backyard it is easy to do and so refreshing.
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Apr 16 2008

Legaris Crianza Tempranillo (Spain 2003)

Category: TempranilloMike @ 6:38 am
Legaris 2003 This wine is a Tempranillo from the Ribera del Duero region of Spain. Tempranillo in this region is known as Tinta Fina. This wine has already aged for 5 years and will age very nicely for another 5.
$12 from Costco
Four Trophies
  • Aromas of chocolate, wood and ripe berries.
  • Flavors of plumb, chocolate and vanilla in the finish.
  • Abundant flavors with soft tannins.
  • Very smooth and wonderfully complex.
  • This is a thoroughly enjoyable bottle of wine that is fantastic to open now. We would love to have another bottle of this to keep for an additional 5 years to see how it matures. Complex and vibrant, just like your favorite charismatic Hollywood actress – except that this wine really is complex and vibrant, it’s not just putting on a show.
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Mar 30 2008

Reflexion Tempranillo (Spain, 2003)

Category: TempranilloMike @ 3:55 pm
No Bottle Image Available This wine is a Tempranillo from the Rioja region of Spain. We explained a little about what a Rioja was in a previous review on Marques De Riscal
The bottle suggests opening it several hours prior to drinking and we would agree. We found that with the use of a decanter that an hour was all it took to be ready. Decanting really smoothed out the wine and added a wonderful texture. This wine has received many accolades from other reviewers and being that the price was only $10.00 we would agree with them.
$10 at Fresh & Easy
Four and a Half Trophies
  • Sweet black cherries dominate the aroma with an undertone of spice
  • Very soft and velvety in the mouth
  • Cherries and plum in the taste
  • Earthy with oak flavors come through at the end.
  • A great wine that is a little bit harsh right out of the bottle. Decanting and time is strongly suggested….much like a relationship that takes time and effort so to does this wine…The time you give it to breath will reward you for your wait and you will be left with a very easy drinking, smooth and comfortable wine.
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Feb 04 2008

Tapena Tempranillo (Spain, 2006)

Category: TempranilloMike @ 7:23 am
Tapena Tempranillo This wine is a Tempranillo from Spain. Tempranillo is the main grape for much of Spain. The primary regions where the grape is grown are Rioja and Ribera Del Duero. Tempranillo’s can be very similar in many ways to Pinot Noir as is the case with this particular bottle.
$10 Purchased at Bashas
Four and a Half Trophies
  • Aromas of red berries, cherries and vanilla.
  • Very smooth and soft, but also light and crisp at the same time.
  • Flavors of plumb and a little smoke and oak.
  • At $10.00 a bottle this wine is like waking up on Saturday morning at 5:00 a.m……You suddenly realize that it is the weekend and you are free to sleep for a couple of more hours. A great wine, and the price makes it so worth it. You must try this wine! You will be so grateful that you did.
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Dec 17 2007

Marques De Riscal Tempranillo (Spain 2003)

Category: TempranilloMike @ 7:50 am
Marques De Riscal 2003 This wine is a Tempranillo from the Rioja Region of Spain. The Rioja region is in Northern Spain and known for producing outstanding grapes. The region was granted Denomination of origin status in 1926 and in 1991 became a qualified denomination of origin. This is important because it means that it is a protected region and only wine made from grapes produced here can be called rioja wines.
$14 Purchased at Trader Joes.
Three Trophies
  • Very dry wine.
  • A lot of tannins (decanting is recommended).
  • Spicy and robust.
  • This is a wine that is better enjoyed with a meal than on it’s own.
  • This is definitely a wine that needs to be accompanied by a meal. It is like going to a football game by yourself…it is enjoyable to do, but much more fun with company.
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