Straight Line Tempranillo California 2009
February 10, 2011
Grape
90% Tempranillo 10% Graciano
Facts
If you caught my previous post where I visited the excellent Talisker on Main restaurant in Park City, Utah, you’ll know that I brought the Straight Line Tempranillo to the restaurant. Since this wine is one of my favorites that winemaker Jon Grant produces, I felt it was worth a little more insight!
The Tempranillo grape is native to Spain and is arguably one of the most “noble” of all Spanish varietals. The word Tempranillo comes from the Spanish word temprano, meaning “early", (the grape supposedly ripens weeks earlier than other grapes).
Graciano is a little bit more obscure of a varietal. Graciano is a Spanish red wine grape that is often blended into the wines of Rioja. Graciano vines have a relatively low yield, and produce grapes that are rich in color, high in acidity and have a spicy character.
All fruit for the Straight Line Tempranillo is hand harvested and sorted. All grapes are then transported to Turley Wine Cellars where the wine is made, (Jon Grant is still the assistant winemaker at Turley). The finished wine is then aged in a combination of new and used French oak barrels for one year.
Winemaker Jon Grant is an avid skier, and named the Straight Line after the quickest route down a mountain on a pair of ski’s (if you’re insane)! His love of wine all came from managing a wine store in Snowbird, Utah. He then went on to run the wine program for the six dining rooms at the resort. Jon has also worked at such wineries as Robert Mondavi, Plumpjack and Corison.
The Straight Line Tempranillo (2009) has a 550 case production.
Place (click map for larger view)
Grapes for the Straight Line Tempranillo are sourced from three different California vineyards:
Madder Lake Vineyard,
Liberty Oaks Vineyard
Sueño Vineyard.
The wine therefore bears a simple California appellation.
The Madder Lake Vineyard is located directly north of Mount St. Helena in the Mayacamas Range in Lake County. The site was planted in 1998 with Tempranillo taken directly from the Ribera del Duero wine region of Spain. The soil is extremely rocky, making the vines fight for survival, therefore yielding intense grapes that are full of flavor.
Copain, Orin Swift and Turley wineries also purchase fruit from the Madder Lake Vineyard. Grapes from the Madder Lake Vineyard make up around one third of the Straight Line Tempranillo.
The Liberty Oaks Vineyard is located in the Lodi appellation. The vineyard was planted in 1999 to Tempranillo. Because the soils are composed solely of volcanic clay, the vines are forced deep underground for nutrients.
On a side-note, you would think that giving a vine every nutrient it requires would in fact yield a better quality grape, but in fact the reverse is true! It’s kind of like people, if you give someone everything they need, every comfort, every luxury, they will never produce anything of substance. Kind of like Paris Hilton. But if you make them struggle a little, the end result will always be greater!
The Tempranillo sourced from the Liberty Oaks Vineyard makes up 55% of this wine.
The Sueño Vineyard, is located in the eastern side of Lodi and gives the 10% Graciano grapes for this wine. The vineyard was planted in 1999 with several grape varieties. The word Sueño means ‘dream’ in Spanish. The vineyard is certified organic.
Taste
Very approachable and unique, the wine is rich with black fruit, but has underlying pepper, mocha, clove, herbs and spice. Beautiful complexity, and kind of hard to describe! Just when you think it’s all about the fruit, I take another bite of food and sip of wine and it radically changes.
I find that Spanish Temp’s can sometimes overuse American Oak, which is fine if that’s what you are looking for, but it’s often difficult when pairing with food. The oak was very well integrated and not obnoxious on the Straight Line!
Pairing
Tempranillo’s are one of the most food friendly wines there is, but I’m feeling like we should get back to its roots and think Spanish! I recommend tapas, grilled red meats, olives, rosemary lamb, hanger steak with a light chimichurri, smoked sausage or maybe even paella…I’m getting hungry…
Price
$24
