2019 LaMar Vineyard Tempranillo - Optio Vineyards

Tart raspberry compote, cracked peppercorn, crunchy blackberry. Cranberry preserves, ground cinnamon, sour cherry. A delightfully rich yet energetic fruit core led by wild blueberry, strawberry, and red plum radiates excellent ripeness and concentration while simultaneously remaining deliciously tart and fresh. Notes of sliced jalapeño, spring bramble, and ancho chilies swiftly emerge in a wave of wonderfully spicy overtones that playfully intersect with pretty floral suggestions of desert rose, cactus flower, and fresh carnations. Hints of vanilla and oak spice provide a glimpse of well executed barrel treatment as impressions of sandstone and parched soil expose intriguing earthiness. Wonderfully fruit-forward, youthful, and expressive on the palate with a nice combination of depth and balance; exhibiting a unique and admirably authentic presentation that beautifully represents its noble yet underrated variety. Full bodied with moderate tannin backed by elevated acidity. This 2019 LaMar Vineyard Tempranillo by Optio Vineyards is a spicy and seductive red from Paso Robles' Geneseo District.

Located directly east of the town of Paso Robles in the heart of Paso Robles Wine Country, the Geneseo District is a warm sunshine-filled growing region notable for producing bold wines bursting with ripe and concentrated fruit. This bottling, crafted by Optio Vineyards using Tempranillo sourced from their estate LaMar Vineyard in the Geneseo district, is an outstanding example of the depth and complexity this unique region can produce. This wine gushes with rich yet tart red and dark fruits enhanced by spicy herbal notes, pretty floral charm, well integrated oak, and pleasant earthy qualities. It remains nicely balanced despite its sizeable weight and amplitude, and beautifully captures Tempranillo's distinct varietal character with a decidedly Paso twist. Excellent.