An initially dense yet still highly lively display teeming with wild blackberry, tart blueberry, spiced black cherry, and licorice booms with rich yet nicely restrained intensity as intriguing floral tones of cactus blossom, bougainvillea, and wildflowers playfully bolster aromatics. Notes of sagebrush, tree bark, and bramble further enhance decidedly rugged complexity while hints of broken-in leather and tobacco lead a diverse range of savory charms. A mild dusting of cayenne powder and crushed red pepper contributes perfectly integrated spiciness while impressions of parched earth and sunbaked soil intimately reflect terroir. Notably bold and concentrated on the palate while retaining surprising freshness, energy, and crunch; exhibiting a grippy and mouth filling yet brilliantly balanced presentation that effortlessly marries modern concentration and with intriguing ruggedness and rusticity. Medium-plus bodied with high tannin offset by elevated acidity. This 2021 Coventina Vineyards Tempranillo by Ricochet Wine Company is a structured and age-worthy red from Oregon's Rogue Valley. 

Native to Spain where it is the country's most widely planted red wine grape, Tempranillo is a noble yet often underappreciated variety that is capable of producing wine of world-class complexity and depth. This bottling, crafted by Ricochet Wine Company using Tempranillo grown at Coventina Vineyards in the Rogue Valley, exhibits how wonderfully well suited this grape is to Southern Oregon. This possesses a concentrated yet balanced core of dark fruits layered with rugged floral tones, brambly herbal character, attractive savory qualities, and gorgeous spiciness. Although relatively approachable today its structure indicates that it has a decade or more of positive development ahead of it, and it is sure to put a smile on the face of those who enjoy the great Tempranillos of Spain. Outstanding.