Also, compared to the stuff most people are drinking, this is rather boring, low grade plonk. All cost $10 (no questions about this, please )
Anyway, here goes.....
TN Tierra de Castrilla 'Elefanti' Tempranillo Shiraz (Spain) 2009 14%
From Spain's equivalent of the Riverlands/Riverina. Not a good start. But one of the top Aussie wine critics recommended it and it's a top seller in a small wine store in Melbourne amongst many places. So, I was quite hopeful of something reasonable.
Rather volatile and astringent upon opening. By the 3rd night it had settled down and softened up, if not become great in any way. Spicy, red cherries on the nose. More spice and cherries on the palate joined by tingly tannins and some cooked meat with a medium body. The tannins kick in a bit more at the end, but there's not much of an after taste. Overall, varietal, but thin and lacking character and enjoyment. 88
TN Whitebox Tempranillo 2007 14.5%
From the Spanish region of Heathcote.
It is clearly a Tempranillo, but also quite obviously Australian. A bit richer and fruitier in terms of aroma and taste, the alcohol poking out a bit, but with similar tempanillo characteristics as above, just not as distinctive.It's a bit easier to drink, the tannins a fair bit softer, but still not really enjoyable. 89
TN Marques de Riscal 'Proximo' Rioja (Tempranillo+), Elciego, Spain. 2009. 14%
Much better from the get go. There's an intense nose of preserved cherries, pomegranate and woody spice. It's more subtle on the palate - more like a bordeaux than a big SA red. Very light tannins compared to the above two. The line is good with the aromas repeated on the palate. Some may say it lacks depths, but that's not the style - it's not Barossa shiraz. It would be a bit disappointing if that was all, but just as you think it was going to finish with a powder puff, these big spicy cherry tannins kick in adding much needed character and giving it an enjoyable, reasonably lengthy finish. Not amazingly good, but enjoyable and interesting. 91
