***I received this wine as a sample***

It’s unusual for me to travel for work, so when I was offered the opportunity to go on an overnight trip with colleagues from other offices, I jumped at the chance.  Last Monday was a travel day, but Tuesday was an action packed workday.  There were 15 of us being driven around Madison, WI, on a white shuttle bus.  After each site visit, we piled back onto the shuttle, eager to discuss what we just witnessed.  Surprisingly, or maybe unsurprisingly, the discussions revealed that there were a number of different interpretations of what we saw, and in some cases, the visits lead to more questions than answers.  After 7 hours of touring, our group climbed onto the shuttle for the last time and headed to the airport to return to DC.  By the time I walked in the door of our condo, it was after 10:30pm.  I opened a bottle of Tempranillo and eagerly sat on the couch to tell Hubby about everything I learned during my 36-hour trip.

The 2008 Tapeña Tempranillo (winery, snooth) was 100% Tempranillo and a deep, purplish ruby color.  On the nose, there were plums, earth, and a hint of tobacco.  In the mouth, there were dark fruits and earth with a hint of tobacco and violets.  The wine had medium tannins, acidity, and body.

Is this worth a glass after work? Sure…you won’t be drinking anything out of the ordinary, but you’ll have a decent, reliable glass of wine. At a suggested retail price of $10, this wine is an inexpensive and very solid, food-friendly choice.  It doesn’t have the strong savory characteristics that I generally love in a great Tempranillo, so if that is what you’re looking for, this wine isn’t for you.  However, if you’re new to the grape or looking for a Tempranillo with a good quality-price ratio, the 2008 Tapeña is worth considering.

Price: $10 (suggested retail)
Received as a sample
Overall: 3 Corks