Quick Sip: Riaza Wines Hunter’s Oak Vineyard 2012 Tempranillo
Today’s Quick Sip is Riaza Wines’ Hunter’s Oak Vineyard 2012 Tempranillo from the Clement Hills sub-appellation in southeastern Lodi. Riaza Wines is owned and operated by husband-wife duo, Erin and Rick Taylor. The winery is named after a small town [Riaza] the couple visited that is approximately 27 miles north of Madrid, Spain. Turning a ‘dinner table’ idea into reality, Erin and Rick launched Riaza Wines in 2008 with a focus on crafting small lots of Spanish-inspired wines from distinctive sites in Lodi, Clarksburg and the Sierra Foothills. In addition to this vintage, I have enjoyed the 2011, and both are pleasing wines reflective of the quality of fruit coming from Hunter’s Oak vineyard and Rick’s work in the cellar. This wine drinks well on its own, but is also a very nice bottle to enjoy with family and friends at the dinner table. I enjoyed a glass with a smoked brisket sandwich, pit-smoked beans, and a side of coleslaw. For further information and where you can find this delicious Lodi Tempranillo, please see my tasting notes below. If you’re in or near Lodi, check out Riaza Wines’ downtown tasting room.
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| Riaza Wines Hunter’s Oak Vineyard 2012 Tempranillo |
Review: Riaza Wines Hunter’s Oak Vineyard 2012 Tempranillo (SRP $26): This is a charming and supple medium-to-full bodied wine that opens with inviting scents of dried cherries, cranberry, warm spice, and a whiff of cigar box. It is soft and round in the mouth with well integrated tannins and a pleasing core of red fruit flavors, ending in a medium-long spice-accented finish. Overall, this is a well-balanced wine with lots of appeal that is easy to enjoy on its own or with food. The producer’s pairing suggestions, which all sound wonderful, includes gilled tri-tip, lamb shoulder or smoked brisket. Approximately 97 cases of this wine were produced. Region: Lodi, California. (Other info: ABV 14.6%, 19 months in American and French oak, cork enclosure). Click here to find this wine. 89 Points
Have a question about this post? Feel free to drop me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com or hit me up on Facebook or Twitter. Stay tuned ...more to come. Happy Sipping, my friends! Disclosure: This wine was provided for review. Thoughts are my own.
