19. Tempranillo Flashcards
What levels of acidity are Tempranillo wines?
Medium acidity
What level of tannins do Tempranillo wines have?
Medium tannins
What flavours do Tempranillo wines typically exhibit?
Red fruit - strawberry, red cherry
Black fruit - blackberry, black plum
Is oak used in Tempranillo wines?
Yes, common in Spain
What flavours does oak use in Tempranillo wines impart?
Vanilla, smoke, cedar
What flavours does bottle ageing Tempranillo wines impart?
Mushroom
Leather
Dried fruit
How are Tempranillo wines aged?
Usually time in oak and also some bottle ageing
What does ageing Tempranillo wines in oak do to the wine?
Softens tannins
Adds body
Imparts secondary flavours - vanilla, smoke, cedar
What are the key regions for Tempranillo?
1 country, 3 regions
Spain - Catalunya, Rioja, Ribera del Duero
What kind of wines are found in Catalunya?
High volume Tempranillo and Tempranillo blends
Where is Catalunya?
Spain
Where is Rioja?
Spain
Where is Ribera del Duero?
Spain
What climate does Tempranillo grow in?
Moderate to Warm
What grapes are most common in Rioja wines?
Tempranillo, blended with local varieties and/or Garnacha
How are Spanish wines classified in terms of labelling?
By ageing periods with legal minimum ageing criteria
What is the Spanish wine labelling hierarchy?
Joven
Crianza
Reserva
Gran Reserva
What are Joven wines?
Spanish wines, typically young and fruity
No ageing requirements
Released the year following the vintage
Primary fruit characteristics
What are Crianza wines?
Spanish wines, aged in oak barrels before release
Secondary and primary characteristics
What are Reserva wines?
Spanish wines, aged in oak barrels and in bottle
Primary, secondary and tertiary characteristics
Softer tannins
Some fresh red fruit flavours become cooked or dried
What are Gran Reserva wines?
Spanish wines with the longest minimum ageing requirements
Pronounced secondary and tertiary characteristics
What must a winemaker consider when deciding whether to create a Gran Reserva wine?
Quality of the grapes
Flavour intensity, acidity and tannins
Which grape has the following characteristics:
Medium acidity
Medium tannins
Red fruit (strawberry, red cherry) to black fruit (blackberry, black plum) dependent on ripeness
Can be oaked or unoaked
Often barrel and bottle aged?
Tempranillo - Rioja wines
