Tempranillo is synonymous with Abacela. Greg’s father, Earl Jones, planted it – the first in Oregon – in the early 1990s. This is a reserve Tempranillo from the Fault Line estate vineyard in Umpqua Valley.
The wine is purple and opaque in the glass, with very aromatic and floral aromas, blue-black fruit, and spice. The wine shows considerable depth, with savory elements that persist through a medium-long, complex finish.”. Sit with the bottle throughout the evening, sipping, of course. There was very little new oak use, mostly neutral, and the tannins are already well integrated.
This excellent Reserve Tempranillo is drinking beautifully right now. I expect it will easily age seven to 10 years from vintage. And no, you’re sipping and cellaring part of Oregon wine history.
It’s also worth noting that Albariño was another first for the winery with estate plantings in the late 1990s.
Read about Wine Character Greg Jones in this in-depth interview.