2013 Field Recordings, Tempranillo “Ventucopa” Santa Barbara County.
Andrew Jones’ is making some of the best value wines in California and his Tempranillo offerings are some of the best varietal Tempranillo you can get, especially this new Field Recording release from Ventucopa in Santa Barbara. The Ventucopa is a juicy version of Tempranillo with dark fruit, a bit more acidity than the Paso Dead End Ranch, but showing lush texture and real harmonic flavors that dance on the palate and linger on the finish, this is really lovely stuff and drinks great right now. This Tempranillo is somewhere between a Joven and Crianza (Rioja) in style, in fact, it feels like a Chianti Classico with deep color, but with bright cherry and plum fruits. This entertaining red is one of many from Field Recordings, and you should be sure to check them all out, in particular Jones’ Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and his main wine the Fiction Red Blend are of the highest interest and give lots of pleasure, especially for the price. The Ventucopa Tempranillo starts with that garnet/ruby hue, a hint of spice and perfume, leading to a fruit driven mouth with morello cherry, fresh picked plum, minty herb, mineral, aromatic shrub, tangy dried currant and cedar as well as picking up some baking spice and raspberry on the finish. I think it would be fun to hold a few bottles for a few cellars in the cellar, though it wouldn’t be easy as it drinks so good right now, I highly recommend visiting as many Field Recordings wines as you can, they really are super wines and this Tempranillo might be the sleeper in the bunch, drink this Spanish themed red between 2015 and 2020.
($17 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive
