I wanted a rich red wine that was high in tannins, and so the good people at Vintage Cellar directed me to the Anciano Tempranillo Clasico, vintage 2020. This wine comes to us from Valencia, Spain. Most Tempranillos are a Spanish affair, and my knowledge in Spanish wines is severely lacking. The bottle was modestly priced at $9 and had an alcohol content of 13%.
From reviews I found online, this wine is described as having fruit notes of cherry and plum. It is noted as being smooth and silky with a medium body and soft, supple tannins. They also say it has a fruity aroma with a hint of spice.
Upon opening, I noticed the wine to be a pale purple color. The aroma was interesting: it was fruit forward as described with strong cherry and plum notes. However, it also smelled a bit like a nice perfume, perhaps due to the alcohol. It also had interesting secondary scents like acacia, cedar, and especially potting soil. It had a surprisingly light body, with a refreshing acidity. It tasted earthy and slightly astringent. It was dry, with flavors of tart cherry, blackberry, and a floral component that was hard to place. The closest I could come to identifying it was it tasted slightly of rosemary.
Tempranillos, according to Wine Folly page 175, have medium tannins, alcohol, body, and acidity with minimal sweetness. I found it to be in great balance. Common notes of this wine are cherry, dried fig, cedar, tobacco, and dill. It was a very interesting experience, and one that I would try again.
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