2Hawk Winery Tempranillo Rogue Valley 2019

When you think of Oregon wines, tempranillo might not be the first varietal that comes to mind. But, inside the warmest and driest Oregon wine-growing region, the Rogue Valley, Spain’s darling tempranillo happens to thrive, and we’re stoked to bring you one for LESS THAN $15 that is as undeniably delicious as it may be surprising!

Let’s talk dirty for a second (as in soil, but of course) – the 2Hawk vineyard sits atop what locals call the Bear Creek sub-basin, an area consisting of two-layered bedrock underneath the soil made up of the Roxy Formation (a shallow volcanic layer), and the Payne Cliffs Formation (a softer, alluvial sandstone layer). A 20-million-year erosion process has resulted in very old, predominantly volcanic soils characterized by shallow silty and clayey loams that drain moderately well. All of that? Well, it means the grapes are grown in a pretty perfect environment for tempranillo, especially the legendary clone of Tinto de Toro (plucked straight from the Toro wine region about 50 miles from Madrid), used here. You’ll notice a silky texture and powerful lightness that unfolds with ease with each sip. A satisfying blend of blackberry crumble and black currant jam with smoky tobacco, crushed peppercorn, and a chocolatey finish make this wine a true stunner that holds up its structure but still shows off all the bright, juicy fruits you love to taste in a tempranillo. The 2018 rendition scored a fair 92 points from Wine Enthusiast, and we’d call this a wine reminiscent of California’s old vine zinfandels, Italian Barbera, and of course, Spain’s Rioja and Toro reds. Just so good.

With that, you may be wondering, “But HOW, for just under $15?!” We’ll tell you (because friends don’t gatekeep): In 2020, the 2Hawk brand underwent a major change, with owners Jen and Ross Allen renaming it to Padigan and refreshing the entire brand along with it. We were tasked with the (quite fun) duty of helping them move some of their older labels to make way for the new, and ta-da…here we have a seriously GOOD, under $15 Oregon tempranillo that would make Spaniards sing. Grab a bottle – heck, grab a case – because at this price point, why wouldn’t you?!