The 2018 Tempranillo was co-fermented with Graciano, Syrah and Grenache, and matured for 29 months in 54% new French oak. It has a deep ruby-purple color and segues from tar and graphite to black fruit, licorice, mint chocolate, cigar box and charcuterie on the nose. The full-bodied palate offers concentrated, savory fruits, generous silty tannins and fireworks of fresh acidity, finishing with tremendous length and detail. Beginning this vintage, the Tempranillo was matured for an additional 10 months in barrel—the extra aging has produced a very elegant expression! 538 cases were made.

The 2017 Tempranillo comes from the Paderewski vineyard and was aged 19 months in 67% new French oak barrels and puncheons. It has an opaque ruby-purple color and a nose of sour cherries and Italian plums with underlying nuances of tar, coffee, leather and soy sauce. The palate is super spicy, bright and fresh, with a firm structuring frame and long, layered finish. It's an elegant New World expression of the grape.

The 2016 Tempranillo contains 2% Syrah and aged 19 months in 80% new French oak barrels and puncheons. Medium to deep ruby-purple, it offers up red and black cherries, redcurrants, old leather, wild game, scorched earth, garrigue and lavender scents with a lightly savory/earthy undercurrent. The palate is medium to full-bodied, silky and intense but delicately styled with a pleasantly chalky frame and great freshness, finishing long and layered. This is an elegant, well-balanced and expertly made example of classically styled Tempranillo from the new world. Give this another 2-3 years in bottle. 363 cases were made.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Tempranillo is scented of red currants, mulberries, dried herbs and dusty earth with hints of tobacco and stewed tea. Full-bodied, with plenty of earth and red fruit layers, it has a firm structure of chewy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and savory. This wine contains splashes of Grenache and Mourvèdre, and only 481 cases were made.

Checking in at the top of the barrel sample, the 2013 Tempranillo (87% Tempranillo, 10% Grenache and 3% Zinfandel) is a structured, tannic, full-bodied and youthful red that has lots of darker berry fruits, crushed flowers, chocolate and savory spice aromas and flavors. I love its purity, but it needs 2-3 years of cellaring.