Varietal:Â 100% Tempranillo
Region:Â Spain – Rioja
Cost:Â $10 (SRP)
Winemaker’s Notes:Â Deep cherry color that suggests a young, vibrant wine. Rich and intense ripe red fruit with oak nuances and subtle tones of vanilla and sweet spices. On the palate it is true to the nose, perfumed, soft, and fresh with a long length on the palate that leaves memories of red fruit, vanilla, and cocoa. Pairs perfectly with pasta, poultry and fresh light cheeses, grilled chicken, and small bites.
My Review:Â I’m a big fan of wines that are approachable but not overly simplistic. They appeal to a wider audience and tend to offer some flexibility when pairing, or don’t even require a food pairing to let the wine shine through. When combined with a nice affordable price point it’s even better. Enter the 2010 Campo Viejo Tempranillo.
The wine presented a nice deep red color with streaks of violet that were barely noticeable at first. On the nose I got the advertised red fruit and oak hints, with the nose striking me as bright. On the palate I those flavors carried over, with a good mix of ripe cherry flavors and hints of oak that I felt softened the finish.
Taking advice from the tasting notes I was provided we through some chicken on the grill and diced up and seasoned some red potatoes to throw in the oven for cooking. The seasoning on the chicken made the wine less of a good pairing, but I wouldn’t pass up pairing the wine with grilled chicken again if I did a less bold seasoning.
That being said, just sipping on the wine by itself without any food was enjoyable, and for the price point it’s a great value wine to keep around for Wednesday night dinner or for sharing with friends on a weekend as the flavor profile should appeal to a wide variety of palates.
I’ve never had a problem finding Campo Viejo wines at my local grocers and wines shops, but if you’re having trouble finding it you can follow this link and have some delivered directly to you.
*Full Disclosure: I received this wine as a sample
I sell wine for a living and your knowledge is very extensive and you are right on in your post about Argentinian wine. I love small wineries and that is where you get the best wines that no one knows about. Great post
I live in the UK. I share your views on Campo Viejo wines.
If I buy a large qunatity will it keep for a year or two or should it be drunk young?
If you store it correctly it should keep for a year or two, but I don’t think it’s really going to do much to enhance the wine so I’d say drink it while you’ve got it.