This Week's Tasting
Affordable Rioja and Friends
February 19, 2025
The Tempranillo grape is to Spain what Cabernet is to Bordeaux or California. It can be savory in the nose and has more tannin and structure, so it's often blended with softer grapes...
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This Week Wednesday, February 19, 2025 Affordable Rioja and Friends In-store, 5 - 6:30pm
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Affordable Rioja and Friends
5:00 - 6:30 Instore
At the tasting you can purchase any bottle(s) at the case price
The Tempranillo grape is to Spain what Cabernet is to Bordeaux or California. It can be savory in the nose and has more tannin and structure, so it's often blended with softer grapes in cooler conditions. However, tempranillo has a slightly spicy character that a lot of oak can accentuate. Many foods that go with Cabernet will also go very nicely with tempranillo.
2023 Bodegas y Vinedos Artuke Rioja
Artuke, a winery in Rioja, is renowned for its unique approach to winemaking, diverging from the region's traditional blending and aging methods. This is definitely noticeable when you take a sip of the wine. The winemakers use a technique found typically in the French region of Beaujolais called carbonic maceration, taking the texture and flavors of tempranillo to new and enjoyable heights. Aroma: This is an explosion of floral notes and red berries. Full of brightness and purity thanks to the carbonic maceration. Mouth: Juicy flavors of ripe raspberry and red plum, light body with bright acidity and soft tannins. Very Good $15.99, Case $13.59
2020 Familia Torres Pago del Cielo Celeste Ribera del Duero Crianza
All tempranillo grapes are sourced from highly elevated vineyards (1200 feet) located in the east-central part of the Duero River basin. Here, the vines and grapes enjoy a long and gradual growing season, and the unique soil composition yields some of Spain's best Tempranillo grapes. It's an opulent, fruit-filled, full-bodied wine with intense color that possesses the freshness, supple texture, and rich notes Ribera del Duero is known for.
Aroma: Expressive red and blueberry fruit with accents of toasted spice and herbs. Mouth: Red Cherry, Plum, and orange peel, full-bodied, structured tannins, balanced acidity, and medium length finish. Very Good Plus $23.99, Case $19.99
2021 Rosario Vera Rioja
It means well made. This wine epitomizes the idea that fine wine does not mean expensive, as it drinks far better than its price. A side project of well-regarded Spanish producer Juan Gil, who is taking advantage of a well-situated vineyard site in the Rioja Alavesa that enjoys a maritime climate, allowing his vines to thrive, produce excellent wine, and still offer an honest price.
Aroma: Blackberries, cassis, red currant, plum, black licorice and tobacco. Mouth: Integrated layers of black licorice, cherry, plum jam, toast, oak, and cedar on the palate. Well balanced with a velvet texture and long finish. Very Good Plus $16.99, Case $14.49
2020 Sierra Cantabria Rioja Crianza
With vineyards managed by the Eguren family, the wine is truly a product of paying attention to detail. Everything is done by hand with thoughtful organic farming practices, vine management, and harvest. Careful grape selection before and after destemming ensures the wine is produced with the best fruit possible. The result is a delicious old-school Rioja. Aroma: Intense cherry, plum, spice, coffee, and balsamic notes. Mouth: Medium to full-bodied, polished tannins, good acidity with notes of dried cherries, black raspberries, spice, and Mediterranean herbs. Very Good -Excellent $22.99, Case $19.54
2020 Bodega Lanzaga Rioja LZ
Telmo Rodriguez gained fame as the proprietor of the Remelluri estate in Rioja. For years, he has been on a mission to reform the perception and focus of Spanish wine, which, In Rioja, meant going back to the time when wines were made and named as expressions of terroir.
Bodega Lanzaga is his new project in Rioja. The property has very select old vineyards in the Lanciego zone of Rioja Alevesa. Telmo considers the 2020 LZ Rioja a village wine. It's a field blend of mostly tempranillo with some Garnacha and Graciano.
Organic with spontaneous fermentation, no new oak, and neither fined nor filtered. They are pure expressions of the hills where they grow. To express terroir. In the year we have had it it has gained a devoted following among a group of our customers
2020 LZ Rioja: Deep ruby. Freshness and purity, concentration and complexity. No oak. Forest berries, orange zest, white pepper, and a touch of earth. Very Good - Excellent 24.99/ Case: 20.99
2019 S C Pannell Dead End Tempranilloth
In South Australia's cooler McLaren Vale at emphasizes Tewnporanillo in its essence, a wine surprising elegance and purity
Aroma: Closed, very dense, heady, full, fat, bright acidity; Mouth: Clean, rather delicate soft, pretty fine acid, enticing for its purity; Very Good Plus: $29.99; Case, $25.99 Limited
Mix any twelve or more wines at their case prices
Also of Note....
A Classic Rioja is arriving later this week
2012 Lopez de Heredia Vinya Tondonia
Ready drink now as secondary and tertiary flavors have emerged, showing maturity. Rich red and black fruit, interwoven spice, tobacco, black tea, tangerine peel, and fresh ground peppercorn. Mouth: Medium plus body, fine tannins, firm backbone, balanced acidity, crushed rocks give the mineral impression and ends in a long finish. Excellent Plus $63 Net
And a top American version
2007 Cayuse Tempranillo En Chamberlin
The Wine Advocate rated this nigh unto perfection
The 2007 Syrah En Chamberlin Vineyard is even more complex aromatically with its notes of crushed stone, smoked meat, espresso, truffle, blueberry, and black raspberry. Full-bodied, ripe, intensely flavored, yet elegant, it has a 60-second finish that is pure silk. $165
Order by phone at 617.367.8605, or reserve here: order@federalwine.com
Please pass this on to any friends who are wine enthusiasts!
- Len Rothenberg
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FREE DELIVERY!
downtown on orders more than $75;
in Greater Boston on orders more than $199
