Once I found a recipe for paleo tamales, I knew I had to have a Tempranillo to pair with it before I made them. As luck would have it, that’s just what came in my Wine Awesomeness box this month! With the rain season setting in full blast this week in Seattle, some comfort food sounded just about perfect.
I’m always excited to try a Tempranillo wine. When living in Texas, it was one of the only varietals that grew well there. It became my go-to for a while, especially when visiting a winery or just trying something new. I found it to always be deeply fruity and easy drinking. It still remains a safe space for me when it comes to wine. Drinking it is always like pulling on my favorite pair of comfy jeans.
This region was completely new to me though. The Vino de la Tierra de Castilla wine region labels over 600 wines. The region has been in a functioning D.O. since 1999, but it wasn’t until 2008 that production started truly soaring in this region. Therefore, many consider this region to still be fairly new despite Spain being one of the oldest wine producers in the world.
This wine was from Vino de la Tierra de Castilla, Spain and sampled on October 15, 2019. I was listening to “Giving Up” by Whitney. I noted the juicy, red color that was a little on the dark side. I took in the scents of pomegranate and prunes. The first taste brought overripe plums. The second brought out a taste of stone, like pebbles that had been crunched into the dirt. It stood up well with the tamales. It washed down their thicker graininess and cleared my mouth neatly. The fruity and earthiness were comforting combined with the delicious meat pocket.
I gave this wine a rating of 3.5. This wine felt like coming home. It was solidly good, and I would buy it again if the mood struck.
Sources: