2017 Tempranillo Booker Vineyard
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Tasting notes
Deep glistening ruby. Primary, mineral-tinged black and blue fruits, potpourri, exotic spices and a hint of pipe tobacco on the deeply perfumed nose. Sweet, impressively concentrated blueberry, cherry cola and fruitcake flavors spread out steadily on the palate, picking up a suggestion of smokiness on the back half. Plush and seamless in texture, finishing with superb persistence and smooth tannins that contribute framework and gentle grip. This is as fine an example of the variety as I have ever had from outside Spain.
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
The deep ruby-purple colored 2017 Tempranillo, aged in 70% new French oak, is scented of sour cherries, old leather, grilled meats, woodsmoke, tar and loamy earth with a bacon fat note and touches of violet, bramble and mint. The palate is full-bodied and explodes with savory flavor layers, firmly framed and with just enough freshness, finishing long. 570 cases produced.
Along with Epoch, Jensen makes one of the finest Tempranillo out there. The 2017 Tempranillo offers terrific blue fruits, pepper, violets, and spice-driven aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied, with remarkable purity, plenty of classic Tempranillo tannins, and a great finish. It has upfront charm given its balance, yet I suspect it will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age.