2018 Verdad Tempranillo RESERVA

2018 was a wonderful vintage in Edna Valley. We had a cool wet spring followed by cool, foggy summer mornings and pleasantly warm afternoons. By Labor Day the marine layer was replaced by high pressure which brought warmer weather which ripened up the grapes beautifully. The grapes were fermented with 25% whole clusters and the lots were punched down by hand for the first few days and pumped over for the latter part of the fermentation to keep the tannin level in check. The wine was aged in two-thirds new and one-third one-year old Ermitage barrels for 22 months. This Tempranillo has a silky texture with tart cherry aromas and flavors of cherries, plums and ripe raspberries berries layered with cocoa, mint and licorice. It has a long finish framed by spicy, toasty oak.

*93 points Antonio Galloni's VINOUSThe 2018 Tempranillo Reserva Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard is a barrel selection. It shows more mid-palate sweetness and texture than the straight Tempranillo, along with more pronounced oak signatures from the 75% new barrels (versus 33%). Dried cherry, spice, tobacco and mocha are amplified nicely. I find the greater detail and freshness of the straight Tempranillo bottling a bit more compelling.

-- Antonio Galloni