2Hawk Tempranillo Rogue Valley 2019
The Data
Country USA
Appellation Rogue Valley
Varietal Tempranillo
Retail Price $34
ABV 13.7%
Score 4.5 Stars/95 points
In the Glass
Appearance
Brilliant, dark ruby color.
Aromatics
The aromatics are intense, offering scents of black currant skin that present like organic tar, plum, and boysenberry with supporting notes of black tea, forest floor, cranberry, and cigar box.
Flavor
The palate confirms the nose delivering a red and black fruits-driven core with flavors of red cherry, tamari, slate, oak, and five spice. The finish is long and lingering with chewy tannins.
Intensity & Texture
Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a meaty texture.
Cool Factor
Tempranillo is one of our favorite varietals. It's a native to Spain where it is frequently the base of the great reds. Rarely do we see it shine in the New World as it does at 2Hawk — very cool.
Value Grade
The lovely 2Hawk Tempranillo is a bargain in our estimation delivering complex flavors with scant few bottles — just 231 cases made.
Analysis
We have experienced several 2Hawk Tempranillo wines over the years and they have a real mastery of the varietal. Tempranillo is a noble grape native to Spain. Over eighty-percent of the world’s Tempranillo is still in Spain followed by neighboring Portugal. It has grown in popularity in the USA but it rarely meets Spanish standards as it does at 2Hawk. The bookend months of the 2019 vintage saw February rains with a near record cool in October. It was one of the coolest ripening periods in 2Hawk's history. The fruit for this wine was harvested on several dates in October begining on the fourth and ending on the 30th. The wine is a blend of 90% Tempranillo, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.5% Merlot, and .5% Cabernet Franc. It was fermented with native, wild yeast as are all 2Hawk wines then aged for a period of 21 months in American oak (29% new). Spanish winemakers frequently age Tempranillo in American oak as well. The resulting wine is wonderfully complex with dark, black fruits supported by mineral and spice.
How to Enjoy
Serve at cellar temperature and we advise decanting before serving. Pair with grilled sausages and bold bean dishes.