Tempranillo, Spain’s most vital crimson grape selection, is flexible – able to producing juicy, red-fruit pushed younger wines in addition to wines that may face up to lengthy ageing durations in oak, gaining complexity with layers of vanilla, leather-based, tobacco spice and liquorice.
Thought-about native to Rioja, Tempranillo is now a key selection in Spain’s most outstanding wine areas, notably Ribera del Duero the place it is named Tinto Fino, and with its recognition worldwide, Tempranillo is now grown in wine areas internationally.
Outcomes from this 12 months’s Decanter World Wine Awards are exemplar of this experimentation and development of plantings worldwide, with award-winning examples coming from Australia, Argentina and South Africa to the US, Mexico, Turkey, Ukraine and Uruguay.
Spain, nevertheless, stays Tempranillo’s mainstay with over 800 wines – varietal or blended – awarded a medal at DWWA 2022.
A majority of the competitors’s top-scoring Tempranillo wines come from Rioja and Ribera del Duero, however Toro is properly value noting for its first-ever Finest in Present medal – and Worth at that – for Bodegas Mazas’ Mazas Roble 2020. The judges famous the wine’s sheer energy, exuberance and generosity, in addition to its unbelievable worth at lower than £15 per bottle: ‘A mixture that’s onerous to withstand.’
To have a good time Worldwide Tempranillo Day and slender an unbelievable listing of top-scoring Tempranillo wines from the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards, we spotlight the competitors’s 96-97 level wines properly value discovering…
Rioja
Bodegas Cornelio Dinastía, Imperial Autor 2018
Finest in Present, 97 factors
The aesthetic evolution over the previous few years in Spain’s biggest wine area leaves its winemakers with extra type options than ever earlier than – and lucky drinkers with a variety of various translations of those propitious soils and skies. The Rioja that gained its manner by means of to our Finest In Present choice this 12 months is probably finest described as a ‘new basic’ – moderately deeper and extra main in color, scent and expressive power than the limpid, time-burnished classics of the previous, but on the identical time full of the basic Rioja virtues of mild, brimmingly ripe fruits, heat, glowing richness, supple tannins and understated however guiding acidity. It’s completely accessible now, but a number of years will assist ease again the main target and power of the fruits to the good thing about additional gentleness and a nonetheless hotter glow. Alc 14%
Bodegas Baigorri, De Storage 2017
Platinum, 97 factors
Splendid baked plum and darkish chocolate bouquet. There’s a satisfying density to the darkish fruit character with fabulous focus and a nice silky texture because the wine strikes throughout the palate. Has depth and steadiness, can go a great distance and can solely get higher. A ripper of an ultra-modern Rioja. Alc 14.5%
Bodegas Campillo, 57 Selección Especial 2015
Platinum, 97 factors
Oaky, toasty, caramel and butterscotch aromatics. A fancy, elegant, contemporary, pure, energetic and multi-layered Rioja with a full suite of espresso bean, chocolate, crimson and black fruit flavours balanced by velvety tannins and refreshing acidity on its lengthy, satisfying palate. Nonetheless a child for 2015, with a rosy future. Alc 14.5%
Bodegas Ondarre, Mayor de Ondarre, Reserva 2017
Platinum, 97 factors
Rolling, elegant and sophisticated with a resplendent coconut, blackberry, plum and vanilla oak bouquet. Polished oak on the palate with some leafy darkish berries, strawberry and black raspberry components. Mouth-filling, refined tannins rev up, with touches of espresso and chocolate mocha on the lingering end. Alc 14%
Bodegas Amaren, Angeles de Amaren 2017
Gold, 96 factors
Elegant creamy and spicy bouquet. Intense, highly effective and energetic palate with spectacular, spherical, ripe and candy tannins, juicy focus and a protracted, grippy end. This can be a muscular wine that also has ample fruit and is a type of Riojas that change every time you come to the glass. Alc 14.5%
Bodegas Olarra, Clásico, Reserva 2018
Gold, 96 factors
Centered leather-based, beetroot, vanilla, clove, cranberry and cassis compote aromatics. The palate is wealthy and dense however not overwhelming, with ripe, polished tannins, mocha spice and a few advanced umami notes of soy, salted plum, and ramen. A wine to savour — pure class — with a protracted, spicy end. Alc 14%
Marqués de Riscal, X R, Reserva 2017
Gold, 96 factors
Stunning nostril, with strawberries and black pepper. Hints of flowers and toast within the background. On the palate, it’s so delicate and stylish, but in addition with an awesome construction and quantity. Each delicate and highly effective, this can be a great — and fairly irresistible — wine. Alc 14.5%
Señorio de Libano, Digma, Reserva 2016
Gold, 96 factors
Profuse black fruit aromatics, with a contact of liquorice, anise and orange blossom; juicy and savoury on the palate, with a mild grainy chew to the feel. Bay laurel, cumin, coconut and inexperienced olive flavours explode within the mouth. Very lengthy, advanced and stylish end; excellent ageing potential. Alc 14%
Hacienda El Ternero, Reserva 2014
Gold, 96 factors
Intriguing scents of spice, black fruit and dried flowers. Pretty construction: so dense and highly effective whereas preserving such attraction and softness with bay leaf, mocha and cranberry flavours. A mode that performs extra on the mouthfeel than the aromatics. Delicate, savoury and ethereal with a really lengthy, memorable end. Alc 14%
Bodegas Perica, Oro, Reserva 2012
Gold, 96 factors
A terrific expression of basic Rioja with a fancy nostril exhibiting ripe cherries, blueberries, plums, dried herbs, mocha, oak, cigar field, espresso and cedar. Further layers of polished tannins mix with a mature fruity, spicy and floral cost. Nice wine with a affluent life forward. Alc 14%
Martínez Lacuesta, Reserva 2012
Gold, 96 factors
Basic and scrumptious exhibiting tertiary notes of cigar field, incense, outdated leather-based, cigar field and tomato leaf. The palate is silky with well-handled oak, a vibrant rail of contemporary acidity and mellow, built-in tannins. Advanced wine and really consultant of basic Rioja. Alc 13.8%
Altanza, Gran Reserva 2015
Gold, 96 factors
Stunning and deep Gran Reserva. You’ll be able to actually style classicism right here. It has a chic texture, well-integrated tannins, a number of complexity and notes of roasted fruits, candy spices, cigar field, dried herbs and candy oak. Contemporary acidity enlivens the vivid, spicy and impressively lengthy end. Alc 14%
Ribera del Duero
Bodegas Portia, Roble 2020
Worth Platinum, 97 factors
Beckoning nostril of darkish fruits, spice and even handed oak. The palate has a silky texture and a agency, dryish end. This can be a stellar younger wine with excellent focus (for the worth) and big tannins tucked neatly into juicy fruit that can enchantment to huge crimson wine lovers. Very good worth. Alc 14.5%
Cruz de Alba, Finca Los Hoyales 2016
Platinum, 97 factors
A strong, full-bodied wine with a number of costly bready and yeasty oak on the nostril, which makes you sit up and take discover. Within the mouth black fruits, herbs, vanilla, chocolate and spice are decorously coupled with ripe, built-in tannins and brilliant acidity. Certain to prosper. Alc 14.5%
Bodegas Peñafiel, Miros de Ribera, Reserva 2017
Gold, 96 factors
Highly effective however poised aromas of vanilla spice, ripe black cherries and coconut, with touches of baking spices and violets. Heaps occurring right here, with nuance and complexity at each flip. Spherical and alluring within the mouth, with an excellent construction, brisk acidity and well-integrated tannins. Pretty potential. Alc 15%
Toro
Bodegas Mazas, Mazas Roble 2020
Worth Finest in Present, 97 factors
We haven’t welcomed Toro to our Finest In Present choice up to now, however the sheer energy and enthusiasm of its celebrated Tempranillo pressure (Tinta de Toro) has usually attracted our judges’ consideration as we seek out silvers and golds. This wine places all of that generosity into the glass, however does so at a worth that qualifies for a Worth Finest In Present: a mixture that’s onerous to withstand. It has been oaked, however not with the wild exuberance of a few of its pricier friends: search for damson and bramble fruits to come back singing out of a glass of this darkish, almost-black wine. Like most Toro, it’s gratifyingly comfortable within the mouth however texturally wealthy for all that: creamy and coaxing. It’s onerous to not sprawl and wallow in all of that luscious damson and bramble darkness, however comfortable, discreet acidity combines with the plush tannins to cease the wine cloying. Alc 14.5%
