Wine Club Insider back with you.

You’ve got to “love” the Inland Northwest Weather…

Yesterday, we had beautiful sunshine, 48 degrees, and Spring looked like it had sprung. Today, it is 26, the snow is literally blowing horizontally, and there are new drifts across our driveway. Perfect. If you don’t like the weather, wait a few minutes…

In a recent trip to California, I was struck by how much large parts of the Golden State resemble Spain. Actually - gasp - more than it resembles Bordeaux. (I know, I know… heresy)

But seriously, they’re both dry, hot, and somewhat windy, and that’s where Tempranillo rules!

I’ve had a couple of good ones lately, and I’ve got to say that off the cuff, the big ”T” produces balanced, complex wines that are, dare I say, an all around better value than many other, more famous varieties.

Hold on, hold on… before you send me mean comments, give a couple of these a try and see for yourself.

Remember that even though it’s not one of the Big 3 here (yet!) Rioja is a pretty respectable name in wine, world wide… Now, I’m not saying that California Tempranillo is to the level of Spain’s greatest wines (yet…), and some, to be frank, are trying too hard to become instant “classics.”

Here are a couple I recently tried and really enjoyed. Again, I’m not saying these are equivalent to their Spanish cousins - they’re actually quite different, but they both harken to the mystery of an under-appreciated (at least here!) grape that is going nowhere but up!

These choices were recommended by SNOOTH, and I have to say I agree. (BTW, Greg Del Piaz at SNOOTH does a great job… check him out at http://www.snooth.com/talk/. He’s great at answering questions as well. If you get a chance to try some Temp from your wine club, get it right away, and get ready to order more!

2004 Truchard Carneros Napa Valley - Big, deep, plush, really. This is one you can cellar for a few years. Very well balanced.

2006 Garsa Calaveros County - Lighter, fruity, almost like a Beaujolais in depth, I thought.

Okay, here are a couple of Spanish versions as well…

2000 Lopez de Heredia Bosconia - A real Rioja in the grand style! I have a bottle of their 94 which I’m dying to open!

2006 Dehesa Gago Toro - More rustic, but almost jammy it was so rich.

Until next time,

Cheers,

Wine Club Insider out

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