Ravens Croft Wines 2019 Tempranillo (take 2)

There was no 2020 Tempranillo due to the drought, Mark made a joven style Nero D’Avola instead. With the upcoming release of the 2021 Tempranillo I thought I’d have a second look at the 2019.

Bright crimson with some darker hues still looking very energetic and vibrant in the glass.2019 tempranillo

The bouquet is still initially dominated by cherries, cherry cola/sarsaparilla and savoury/sour wafts from the fruit, with some spices in the mix.

The wine needs time in the glass, don’t be in a rush! Your patience is rewarded as the wine opens up, it’s a joven style but paradoxically still quite young as there is some decent fruit weight lurking in this wine. The initial welcoming is from the red cherry fruit steeped in cherry cola and then opening up to a lovely savoury cherry palatal embrace, with breathing dark cherries emerge, some anise and peppery spice enlivens the fruit intensifying the flavours and urging you to reach for an accompanying dish, citrus rind comes later, mainly orange and a lemony type acidity complexes the experience. There is still just a little grip late in the tannin profile but nothing for the tannin averse to be concerned about as you probably won’t notice this with well chosen tapas, pizza, pasta or the like. The mouthfeel is driven by a nice straight line of acid and has considerable length and there are some underlying mineral characters. All in all a lovely young joven tempranillo but one that will still drink well for another 4+ years.

Mark makes a Joven style which is very different to other Granite Belt Joven Tempranillos which is an excellent result for variety in your cellar. I would really like to see Mark produce a Reserva or at least Crianza I believe either would be excellent, but I do dream of a Reserva.

After the upcoming 2021, which I sampled from barrel in July and am really looking forward to, Mark will have to source Tempranillo fruit from elsewhere as Duncan Ferrier has pulled his remaining Rosemary Hill Tempranillo vines in the aftermath of the drought.

Mark recently informed me that he has decided to hold the 2021 wine back in barrel for 12 months. So this time the finished product will be Crianza rather than Joven.

Tasted: Monday 6th September, 2021 without food and then with over several hours.
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $30
Suggested Drinking Window: 2020 – 2025
Winemaker: Mark Ravenscroft
Fruit Source: Rosemary Hill Vineyard
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Posted by Peter Pacey

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