2023 Booker Tempranillo

The extended aged example and not yet bottled, the 2023 Tempranillo EXT has a similar purple/plum hue and terrific purity in its cassis and blackberry fruit intermixed with graphite, lead pencil, and mineral notes. I love its purity, it's balanced, has medium to full-bodied richness, and ripe, polished tannins. I like its overall suppleness and texture over the classic Tempranillo release. Booker Vineyard, founded by Eric Jensen in the Willow Creek District of Paso Robles, was fully acquired by Constellation Brands in 2021 after an initial minority stake in 2020, and Jensen remains involved. Winemaking is now led by Senior Winemaker Molly Lonborg (appointed in 2025) alongside GM/Director of Winemaking and Viticulture Pete Turrone. The lineup includes a single white, the Grenache-based Ripper, the GSM blend Oublie, the Syrah-led Vertigo, the 100% Syrah Fracture, a varietal Tempranillo, tiny Ones bottlings (Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon) from the best barrels, and EXT versions that see extended élevage. The 2024s are still in barrel and primary, the 2023s are bottled and already showing their class, and overall these are medium to full-bodied, structured, age-worthy wines. While it’s valid to worry about quality when an estate is purchased by a larger corporation, the quality here remains every bit what it’s been.