EL Jamon

Cariñena Tempranillo

8.518 ratings
8.91 pro ratings
Cariñena, Aragón, Spain
Tempranillo
Lamb, Tomato-Based, Polenta, Hard Cheese, Pork, Beef, Pasta, Mushrooms, Soft Cheese, Chicken, Venison, Exotic Spices, Potato, Turkey, Beans & Peas, Herbs, Baking Spices, Pungent Cheese, Duck, Salami & Prosciutto, White Rice, Chili & Hot Spicy, Lasagna, Pizza, Barbecue, Mexican Cuisine, Onion, Shallot, Garlic
Top Notes For
James Dale

Bright fruit aroma and initial flavor. Fine tannins balance this wine on the finish. Bracing acidity renders this wine perfect for lamb ragu with manchego grits.

Bright fruit aroma and initial flavor. Fine tannins balance this wine on the finish. Bracing acidity renders this wine perfect for lamb ragu with manchego grits.

Jan 20th, 2017
John Behrens

Fairly thick bloody red. Strawberry tomato nose carrying musty sweet notes of oak, like a stack of leather bound books in your Grandma's attic. Parts of this wine are as expected: juicy tomatoey/red fruit core from the Tempranillo grape, sweet baking spice & vanilla from the oak, and a very friendly dusting of chalky tannins. What exceeded my expectations for a $10 non-vintage bottle are an exceptionally smooth and warm mouthfeel, a charred vegetal note on the nose and front of the palate (ala graphite + tomato vines), which contributes valuable depth, and occasional flashes of exquisite butteriness on the finish--something I love in red wines and rarely find in cheap ones. I would buy this again for the smoothness and vegetal depth, but not as much for the sheer oaky sweetness, which I've found better in other Spanish Tempranillos.

Fairly thick bloody red. Strawberry tomato nose carrying musty sweet notes of oak, like a stack of leather bound books in your Grandma's attic. Parts of this wine are as expected: juicy tomatoey/red fruit core from the Tempranillo grape, sweet baking spice & vanilla from the oak, and a very friendly dusting of chalky tannins. What exceeded my expectations for a $10 non-vintage bottle are an exceptionally smooth and warm mouthfeel, a charred vegetal note on the nose and front of the palate (ala graphite + tomato vines), which contributes valuable depth, and occasional flashes of exquisite butteriness on the finish--something I love in red wines and rarely find in cheap ones. I would buy this again for the smoothness and vegetal depth, but not as much for the sheer oaky sweetness, which I've found better in other Spanish Tempranillos.

Jun 4th, 2016
Allison Menish

Light bodied, with sweet winter fruits at the front if the palate and a mineral, earthy finish. Easy to drink, but very little grip.

Light bodied, with sweet winter fruits at the front if the palate and a mineral, earthy finish. Easy to drink, but very little grip.

Mar 1st, 2015
MaryLou Tyler

Rich flavor

Rich flavor

Oct 26th, 2014
Darryl Campbell

Good, not great. Fun, easy drinking.

Good, not great. Fun, easy drinking.

Sep 13th, 2014
Braden Angel

Bouquet is a little astringent. On the palate it tastes of bright fruits, but with no backbone, complexity, or finish. For $8.99 there should be no complaints, but I think I require a little more substance than this has to offer.

Bouquet is a little astringent. On the palate it tastes of bright fruits, but with no backbone, complexity, or finish. For $8.99 there should be no complaints, but I think I require a little more substance than this has to offer.

Nov 15th, 2013
Sam Waterson

Great value

Great value

Mar 31st, 2013
Scott Gabree

Easy drinking. Not too interesting. Light bodied.

Easy drinking. Not too interesting. Light bodied.

Nov 3rd, 2012
Tony Woehler

Tony had this 4 years ago

Tony had this 4 years ago

May 19th, 2021
Tony Woehler

Tony had this 5 years ago

Tony had this 5 years ago

Nov 19th, 2019