Pear Valley, Paso Robles (Central Coast, California) Tempranillo 2014

The Tempranillo grapes from which this wine was made seem to have been very, very happy in Paso Robles.  The wine gets off to a strong start by showing beautiful ruby color, and the aromas are all about red fruit–as opposed to aggressive oak, as often happens when New World winemakers craft Tempranillo by mimicking Rioja.  Indeed, Rioja seems not to have been the model for this at all, as it bears a much closer resemblance to a fairly modestly oaked bottling from Ribera del Duero.  The fruit is very soft, recalling super-ripe pie cherries, but without any sugary sweetness.  The wine’s texture is very soft, with just enough tannic grip in the finish (from grape and wood tannins) to make this a promising partner for roast chicken or grilled white meats.  A Double Gold award winner at the 2017 Toast of the Coast Wine Competition.