Founding winemaker Earl Jones and head winemaker Andrew Wenzl deemed this as just the sixth Tempranillo reserve in the winery’s 16 commercial vintage up that that point. The experience from this stately bottle opens with a significant showing of the 72% new French oak barrel program as the garnet-colored fluid produces aromas of coffee, toast and chocolate with blackberry, bacon and mincemeat spices. On the palate, it’s loaded with black currant, more blackberry and vanilla, backed by bacon-wrapped dates, elderberry and smoke. There’s plenty of muscle being flexed from this Oct. 10 pick, and as is the tradition with the Temps from Abacela, patience will begin to be supremely rewarded five years beyond its vintage.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 122 cases
Alcohol: 15.3%
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