2011 Malabrigo Tempranillo

Last night, we enjoyed a #TempranilloTuesday at home with grilled pork chops and a bottle of the 2011 Malabrigo by Bodegas Cepa 21 from the Ribera del Duero region of Spain. Only 5,000 bottles of this wine were produced.

It is made from 100% Tempranillo grapes, also known as Tinto Fino, sourced from the clay and loam soils of the Castrillo de Duero village. This vineyard area is one of the highest elevations and coolest parts of the Ribera del Duero wine region which gives the grapes a longer time to fully ripen while allowing them to retain their acidity.

More elegant than some Ribera del Duero wines, this well-structured dry red has a full body, good acidity and silky tannins with blackberry and licorice flavors, a hint of smoky cedar and a long, spicy white pepper finish, very delectable and highly recommended.

Although the wine was delicious with our meal, after opening and tasting the wine, I wished I had served it with Texas brisket. The finish on this wine makes you crave "burnt ends".

This bottle was a media sample, it has a suggested retail price of $70.

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