Valley View 2004 Anna Maria Tempranillo

Vineyard Notes:
Located in the nationally recognized historic town of Jacksonville, in the Rogue Valley of Southern Oregon, Valley View Vineyard was originally established in the 1850's. The Rogue Valley offers a variety of soil types and microclimates that allow a great diversity of grape varieties to be grown. Because the Applegate Valley is considerably sunnier, warmer, and drier than elsewhere in Western Oregon, Valley View concentrates on Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Viognier, Syrah, and Tempranillo at our estate vineyard.

Varietal Notes:
This Spanish variety is receiving as much acclaim as the first Viognier we released a few years ago. Although many people have not heard of Tempranillo, they have probably enjoyed it in bottles of Spanish Riojas and Portuguese Ports.

Winemaking Notes:
This wine is estate grown from 30 years old grafted Cabernet Sauvignon vines in the Applegate valley. The Applegate is very similar in climate and topography to the Ribera del Duero in Spain where Tempranillo is best grown. The wine was fermented warm, pressed while still fermenting to lessen skin and seed tannins, and aged one year in 1-3 year old American oak barrels.

Tasting Notes:
Showing bright berry, plum and vanilla flavors, this wine is just approaching it's potential, but will continue to improve over the next few years.