Slide Pack 6 Flashcards
Popular Spanish style red blend?
Rioja Red
Grapes common to Spanish style red blend?
1) Tempranillo
2) Graciano
3) Garnacha (Grenache)
4) Mazuelo (Carignan)
5) May find Cab Sauv, Merlot, Malbec and Syrah
6) Lesser known Maturana Tinta
Rioja region (Rioja Alta, Alavesa, Oriental) is known for?
Age worthy reds with dominate cherry character based on Tempranillo, Graciano, Carignan
Priorat region (West of Barcelona) is known for?
Dusty red wines with black cherry made primarily from Tempranillo and Grenache
Ribera Del Duero region (south of Rioja) is known for?
Powerful reds based on Tempranillo but can also find Cab Sauv, Malbec and/or Merlot with extended oak aging. Home of Vega Sicilia
La Mancha and Valdepenas region (south of Madrid)
Value driven reds based on Tempranillo with added Cab Sauv, Merlot, Syrah, etc
Spanish red blend star performer?
Tempranillo
Tempranillo in Spanish blend provides?
Medium+ body with American oak aging to beef up tannins
Tempranillo in Spanish blend contributes?
Maximum to the frontend of the wine, less on mid-palate and low to medium acid levels
Tempranillo dominates blends with?
Strong black cherry characteristics from tart red to black cherry going from higher to lower elevations. SAME IN TEXAS
With more aging, Tempranillo offers?
Notes of cedar, tobacco and dried fig. Handles oak aging very well that brings a strong tannic edge to wines
Spanish red blend role player?
Graciano
Graciano in Spanish blends is generally under appreciated but?
Is the binding force in a conventional Spanish Rioja red blend
Graciano produces?
1) Low yields
2) Ripens late
3) Contributes high acidity
4) Has disease issues
Graciano provides support on the?
Mid-palate in red blends with tobacco and smoky nuances
Carignan in Spanish red blends is?
The unsung hero
Carignan is present in blends in amounts of?
Up to 10%
In Spain, Carignan crops?
Well and provides both med-full body, moderate tannins and medium acidity
Carignan characteristics?
1) Dried red fruits (cranberries)
2) Raspberries
3) Licorice
4) Game and baking spices
5) Under right conditions, provides ripe fruit and moderate alcohol
Tempranillo is a Spanish rioja blend sensation with strict rules about blending and oak aging - T or F
True
Spanish Tempranillo is a blend made with other Spanish varieties to do what?
Augment its structure and improve performance in the winery and glass
In Rioja, Tempranillo is the dominant grape. What are others used for?
1) Garnacha is added for fruitiness
2) Carignan and Graciano used to add acidity and mid-palate body
Many of the best, most expensive and most age worthy Spanish style blends are?
Oak aged for periods up to 5 years
In Spain, oak from the new world was brought from the Americas including Mexico and Texas in the 1600’s starting their tradition of using American oak - T or F
True
American oak aged Spanish blends were called?
1) Old Fashioned
2) Spicy
3) Punchy style
Modern techniques for Spanish blends to create a softer and more sophisticated red is to use?
French oak
Today in Rioja, vineyards are?
1) 80% Tempranillo
2) 10% Carignan
3) 2% Graciano
4) 8% other
Single varietals of Tempranillo are hard to find in Texas - T or F
False
Tempranillos in Texas are becoming more blended with varietals such as?
1) Graciano
2) Carignan
3) Tannat
4) Mourvedre
5) Cab Sauv
6) Merlot
7) Others
Most Texas Tempranillos are aged?
1) aged in oak for 1 to 2 years
2) Held for 6 months in bottle
In Rioja terms, Texas Tempranillos would be considered?
Crianza and not Reserva or Gran Reserva based on limited aging
Five levels of Spanish Tempranillo blends?
1) Generic - no aging
2) Crianza - aged 1 year in barrel
3) Reserva - aged 3 years w/ at least 1 in barrel
4) Gran Reserva - 5 years aging w/ at least 2 in barrel and 2 in bottle
5) Gran Anada - Sparkling with at least 3 years aging on the lees
Spanish blends outside of Rioja use Bordeaux varieties such as?
1) Cab Sauv
2) Merlot
3) Malbec
Bordeaux varietals are used in Spanish blends to add what?
1) Body
2) Tannin
3) Structure
Priorat Region vineyards are?
1) 10% Garnacha (Grenache)
2) 30% Carinena (Carignan)
3) 15% Cab Sauv
4) 10% Syrah
5) 5% Merlot
6) 30% Tempranillo
Texas style Tempranillo makes wonderful roses - T or F
True
Tempranillo Roses can be made with the Saignee method which is?
To bleed off a portion of the red wine juice after it has been in contact with the skin and seeds
