2Hawk Darow Series Tempranillo Rogue Valley 2018

The Data

Country USA

Appellation Rogue Valley

Varietal Tempranillo

Retail Price $49

ABV 14.3%

Score 5 Stars/97 points

In the Glass

Appearance

Brilliant, dark ruby/scarlet color.

Aromatics

The aromatics are intense, offering scents of boysenberry, earth, and dried herbs with supporting notes of mineral, red currant, wild blackberry, and cigar box.

Flavor

The palate echoes the nose delivering a black and red fruits-driven core with flavors of cassis, dark chocolate, blackberry jam, and slate. The finish is long and lingering with ripe tannins.

Intensity & Texture

Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with an opulent texture and an alluring sapidity.

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 made in Rioja and Ribera del Duero. 2Hawk has mastered this varietal.

Value Grade

At nearly $50 a bottle it's certainly beyond many wine drinkers weeknight budget but considering the scarcity and five-star rating, we highly recommend it.

Analysis

The Darow Series is 2Hawk's reserve-tier of wines. Oregon’s Rouge Valley is a fantastic AVA for Tempranillo. 2018 was a classic Indian Summer vintage at 2Hawk. The spring started cool but soon warmed with a great, moderate summer that finished cooler than normal. The critical months of September and October were dry with incredible temperature swings of 40 to 50 degrees from peak midday to overnight. It was a winemaker’s dream. This wine is fermented with indigenous yeast, as are all wines at 2Hawk. It’s a blend of 91% Tempranillo with 9% co-fermented Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. This wine rested in French oak, 52% new, 26% two-year-old, and 22% neutral for a period of 29 months before being bottled and then rested in bottle for another 24 months plus! American wine producers rarely commit to this extended bottle aging. This is a serious and complex Tempranillo redolent of those made in Ribera del Duero, Spain.

How to Enjoy

Serve at cellar temperature and be sure to decant this wine a good hour or more before serving. Pair with grilled lamb loin chops and don't spare the pepper and rosemary.