Belledor Vineyards Tempranillo Shenandoah Valley 2022

This 2022 Tempranillo's juicy fruit, snappy light-medium body, and silky tannins make it such a versatile food wine and fit for all seasons. (When it's hot outside, you can even shamelessly pop this in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes and enjoy a little chill – no sacrifice in flavor.)

The nose is a melding of strawberry, vanilla, violet, and something rustic like dry straw. Then the palate pulls us into this fabulous back-and-forth between black plum, chocolate-covered graham cracker, and toasty oak… and ripe red plum and frisky red cherry. Deep and dusky playing off bright and buoyant – it feels like the very spirit of summer. Essentially, this is a grown up cherry Tootsie Pop, and there’s actually an almost-dab of sweetness nicely integrated with the gentle acid. The finish is dry and dignified, and the volcanic soil comes through faintly on the back of the palate for some intrigue. Way overdelivering for our price.

The Frazier family has been farming this land in Amador County’s Shenandoah Valley for a little over a decade. Hot days and cool nights at 1,500 feet do what you’d hope: deeply ripen this Spanish grape while keeping it lively. Yes please.