Monticello Rioja Reserva Tempranillo 2003

Mother Nature seems to be teasing NE Georgia with days where you’re sure fall has arrived, only to find the next day humid and warm. My arms are getting tired with all this open the windows, close the windows stuff. A handful of leaves have just started to turn on the fall color show. Though I’m not sure if it’s due to drought or if fall is truly making an appearance. Regardless, when the temps at night dip into the 60’s it’s time to crack open a wine with a little oomph to it. That’s where Monticello Rioja Reserva 2003 comes into play.

First whiff and the classic bouquet of spice and oak come through. Flavors are full of spice, vanilla and very woodsy. Refined tannins give it a dry feel but not enough to make the cheeks pucker. Finish is long and oaky.

Varietal – Tempranillo

Region – Rioja Alta, Spain
Alcohol – 13.5%
SRP - $18

Founded in 1874 by Celestino Navajas in Rioja Alta, Spain, Bodegas Monticello is one of the oldest wineries in the region. The winery focuses on top-of-the-line wines and all receive the seal of the Rioja DOC control board. Once the grapes are harvested they are left to age in Bordeaux oak barrels for no less than 18 months. They are then bottled where they can be consumed immediately or aged for several years.

As the much needed rain gives way to bits of sunlight shining on the wet leaves, I’m anxious to experience my first true fall season. Stores have already begun setting out pumpkins and various gourds and I’m itching to begin hauling them home and setting up my own little pumpkin patch. Hoping the first week of October will bring a little cooler temps so my poor pumpkins don’t turn to mush before the season is over. I know I shouldn’t complain, in Florida you couldn’t carve a pumpkin until the day of Halloween since it would be rotten the next day.

Come January I’m sure I’ll be cursing the cold, stuck inside unable to navigate the snow and ice and desperately missing my flip flop and t-shirt attire. In the mean time, I’ll sit back and relax in one of our rocking chairs while watching the squirrels gather acorns and wait patiently for nature to turn on its spectacular color show.

If you would like to send samples for my review, please contact me at kstargaard@yahoo.com.

2011© Kellie Stargaard.  All Rights Reserved.
http://winechicksguidetoeverydaywines.blogspot.com/

Follow me on:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/winechicksguide
Twitter:http://twitter.com/WineChicksGuide

2009 Tempra Tantrum Tempranillo Cabernet Tierra de Castilla, Spain

I know I’ve done a lot of red wines lately but the colder weather makes me want to wrap myself in those big bold reds. I promise, I’ll lighten the wines up very soon. My latest red wine sample was a bottle of 2009 Tempra Tantrum Tempranillo Cabernet. I find Tempranillo wines to be hit or miss for me but this one was pretty much on target.

Nose is filled with spicy black pepper and blackberry. Flavors are filled with juicy red fruits and plum with a slightly dry finish. Well balanced tannins and complexity make this a very easy drinking wine. Fast forward in your mind to when the snow has melted and you’re able to sit outside sipping wine.

Composition - 60% Tempranillo, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon
pH - 3.68
TA - .55g/100ml
Alcohol - 13.5%
SRP - $10.00

Sixth generation winemaker, Rocío Osborne, had a goal to push the traditional bounds of Spanish winemaking and create stylish and modern Tempranillo wines. The winery takes an approach referred to as “Nuevo Vino” to promote soft and fruity wines while maintaining the proper amount of structure and complexity that is unique and characteristic of the Tierra de Casitlla appellation.

The grapes are harvested just before dawn, in the coolest part of the day. They are then fermented at cool temperatures to highlight the fruity quality and soft tannins. After fermentation the wine is aged using micro-oxygenation techniques which softens the wine and opens up the fruit flavors. As the wines are made to be soft and gentle, they require minimal bottle-aging making them ready to drink immediately.

Just keep thinking, February is almost over and soon we’ll all be complaining about the heat. In the meantime, don’t pout or throw a fit, just pick up a bottle of Tempra Tantrum.

2011© Kellie Stargaard. All Rights Reserved.
http://winechicksguidetoeverydaywines.blogspot.com/


Follow me on:
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=114185461044&ref=ts

Twitter:
http://twitter.com/WineChicksGuide