Wine of the Week: Albero 2017 Tempranillo

Wine of the Week:

2017 Spanish Tempranillo by Albero.

Left to air for a little over thirty minutes, the initial sip was immediately thrilling with bright cherry and an underlying earthiness on both nose and tongue. Aromatic hints of tobacco, cedar, and broccoli appear with patience providing a rustic and rugged quality. Its earthy depth is indescribably comforting and the slight spice that the oak elements render is entirely to blame (or to congratulate...). The vanilla and oak particularly stood out when tasted alongside naturally-sweet tomato marinara and spicy vegan Tofurky Italian sausage.

Pomegranate-esque in color, this tempranillo provides a warm, juicy wash through the mouth that’s fairly dry but balances well with the polished and clean tartness of the fruit that leaves a lingering finish in the throat without puckering the lips or parching the tongue.

I tried it with some chocolate the same night and found this changes the wine for the worse by mellowing the fruit notes and creating a chalky texture in the mouth. Definitely plan accompanying meals accordingly with this one. I would like to try it with a Spanish meal in the future but the Italian pairing worked rather well in itself. The bottle suggests serving at 59-63 F. While I overlooked this on the first tasting, I tried it fridge-chilled the next evening and found it a little less complex. The brightness of the cherry and general tart-sweet fruity elements could be considered more refreshing in chilled servings, but it’s disputable. I preferred the room-temperature taste and aroma best and see myself exclusively drinking it this way on future purchases. Located near Spain’s Mediterranean coast, Albero is a division of an old Spanish winery, Iranzo Fields, and produces organic wine that is solely sold in the US at Trader Joes. Albero wines are clearly labeled “100% Organic,” “Non-GMO verified,” and “Vegan” on each bottle.

Price

$5.99 @traderjoes

ABV

13%

Meal pairing

Spaghetti with homemade tomato marinara, @the_tofurky_company Italian sausage, and sautéed garlic-y broccoli.

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Fun Fact

Tempranillo is a classic and highly popular red wine from Spain. Typically full-bodied, highly tannic, and aged in oak, tempranillo pairs well with savory and hearty grilled meals. The tart fruit elements bring a versatility that lends itself to a variety of tastes and pairings, however, despite other bold characteristics. Hearty and grilled is a good pairing rule of thumb, as such density and earthiness can bring out the complexities of this earth-driven wine. They can be drunk young with a juicy fruit-forward quality, while dusty and herbal elements such as tobacco, vanilla, leather, and plum can be contributed from oak aging (and are often expected).