2005 Barnwood Tempranillo ‘Untamed’
2005 Barnwood Tempranillo ‘Untamed’
Price: $15
Region: San Luis Obispo
Haydn gives it: 87 pts
You can buy this wine: Through laetitia vineyards.
I consider the Tempranillo to be the Cabernet Savignon’s little sister or younger cousin. Not in terms of literal grape origins, but more in relationship to the overall taste of the wine. Tempranillo’s, in general, mature faster, a little feistier, yet share similar characteristics to the Cab’s palate. Case in point with this wine, the 2005 Barnwood Tempranillo.
The nose on this wine showed hints of raspberries and blackberries mixed with a dark chocolate cocoa powder, the kinda you’d almost use in baking rather than candy-bar style. There also seems to be a little firewood coming out as well. However, this wine is very fruit forward. The firewood is in the back lurking in the shadows.
Drinking it, the wine displays a fairly full mouth feel. Looking at the wine makers notes, I can’t get a good read on what the “untamed” part of the wine is referring too, but I’ve got to wonder if it is unfiltered, or if the oak was primarily American. It can be easily felt on all parts of my tongue and along the sides of my mouth as well. The raspberries continue to dominate this wine with the firewood and cocoa becoming a bit more pronounced.
The more interesting part of this wine is it’s finish. As I went to take an extra gulp of air after I spit it out, I noticed a bit more firewood and a dusting of smoke at the end. The berry component was completely there as well, however I was a bit taken aback that the earthier finish to the wine.
According to Laetita Winery (where I received the wine from), they state that this wine is, “…virtually bulletproof, drinks well now but will continue to improve with age over the next 15 years.” I’d be curious to see how this wine ages, there were tannins here, but they worked quite well with the medium-bodied style of the wine.
This has been one of the first Tempranillo I’ve seen in a while that can challenge a Spanish originated Tempranillo on price and stucture. For $15, this American Tempranillo is a great deal and a good one to pick up to see what a Tempranillo tastes like.
