Estate Bottled Tempranillo
2016
See the TINTO REY detail page for more information on this brand
The Dunnigan Hills appellation is uniquely suited for grapes that thrive in a Mediterranean climate. Warm days, gravelly soil, little rainfall; these are ideal conditions for Tempranillo, Tannat, Graciano and Verdejo. The spicy, full-flavored Tinto Rey wines truly showcase the distinctive terroir of the estate vineyards.
The grapes were gently crushed and fermented in small, temperature controlled stainless-steel tanks. Specially selected yeast (Assmannshausen and ES488) was used on two of five tanks to enhance color and flavour extraction without harsh tannins. The other three tanks underwent a native fermentation, giving this wine complexity and richness. The tanks were pumped over two to three times a day until nearly dry, then pressed and aged in oak barrels for 29 months. An assortment of French, Hungarian and American Oak was used with only 22% new to avoid over-oaking.
Juicy flavours of plum and dark fruit are layered over earthy tobacco and dark chocolate notes that evolve and deepen with time in the glass. The firm tannins are balanced by luxurious, lingering flavours. This versatile wine is a beautiful aperitif and stands up well to grilled lamb, spicy pulled pork or mussels in a rich garlicy tomato sauce.
This concentrated, complex wine is not overtly fruity, but draws interest from the first whiffs of black olive, rosemary and beef jus, backed by firm tannins and focused, tight blueberry and cranberry flavors.
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