2019 Booker Tempranillo

The 2019 Tempranillo has a deep ruby-purple color and classic red and black cherry fruit with broody tones of coffee, violet, graphite and earth. The medium-bodied palate is finely balanced between fresh fruit and earthy notes, with a chalky frame and savory finish. This will benefit from another 2-3 years in bottle.

Lots of ripe blue fruits (some black as well), ground herbs, pepper, and violet/floral notes emerge from the 2019 Tempranillo, a medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured yet still structured red that needs 2-3 years of bottle age. It’s even more floral and perfumed with time in the glass and is another remarkable wine from Eric that delivers the goods. Eric Jensen continues to tweak the style of these wines, and today the wines play in the much more elegant, streamlined end of the spectrum while still bringing plenty of classic Paso Robles fruit and texture. Alcohol levels are almost all under 14.5%, yet the tannins are ripe, and the wines have solid mid-palate density, integrated acid levels, and straight-up terrific overall balance. These all required plenty of air to show at their best, and I don’t think there’s a wine reviewed that won’t benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age.