2011 Tierra Hermosa Tempranillo “Neblerío”
PRODUCER PROFILE | TIERRA HERMOSA
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Why We Love It:
Once every 5 or 10 years we come upon a brand new producer – or brand new wine – that offers a ratio between price and score that’s so outrageously exciting that we have trouble keeping it in stock. This usually happens with products that are coming from unfamiliar regions or grapes or producers since new discoveries such as these need to offer exceptional value to capture the imagination and attention of the international wine world. Today we’re very pleased to introduce a wine that falls exactly into this category – and having received a 93 point score at less than $13 per bottle, it’s hard to imagine that the first hundred cases of Tierra Hermosa Tempranillio “Neblerio” that have just rocked up will last very long. Now it would be easy to assume that a wine at this price is a generic and highly processed “factory” wine – but nothing could be further from the truth. This small batch release comes from high altitude vineyards in southern Spain – on the slopes of the Sierras de Tejeda Natural Park to the south-east of Alhama de Granada in Granada province.
Here, winemaker (and owner of Tierra Hermosa) Harry Hunt works with local independent growers to coax incredibly fragrant and delicious juice from the red limestone soils known locally as Los Rojillos. Giving rise to the name of this wine is a morning mist called “Neblerio”, which brings much needed moisture to the east facing slopes in this mountainous terrain. The grapes are hand-harvested at night (to help preserve freshness in the resulting wine by protecting the fruit from intense daytime sun) and aged for a short period in tank to allow full integration ahead of final bottling. The stylistic decision to avoid aging in oak emphasizes the freshest possible expression of this unique high-altitude terroir. The final product is an infinitely drinkable and delicious red wine delivering complexity, finesse and quality beyond anything you could reasonably expect from a $13 bottle of wine.
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Recipes & Food Pairings:
Provencal Style Chicken w/ Tomatoes, Olives + Capers – RECIPE
Beef Braised in San Marzano Tomatoes w/ Creamy Polenta – RECIPE
Slow Roasted Filipino-Style Pork Adobo – RECIPE
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Price:
BOTTLE: $12.95
CASE: $155.40
BUY THIS WINE
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Technical Specs:
ALCOHOL: 14.0%
BOTTLE: 750mL
Case Pack: 12 x 750mL
GRAPES: 100% Tempranillo
CLOSURE: Natural Cork
CELLAR POTENTIAL: Now to 2020
SERVING TEMPERATURE: 15°C to 17°C
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Tasting Notes:
(2010 Vintage) “Red fruits dominate the palate, underpinned by richer black fruits, a touch of blackberry and black cherry. There is a lot happening on the finish – juniper, some walnut and lots of black and red cherry.”
93 out of 100 Points
Derek Smedley, MW / International Wine Challenge
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(2010 Vintage) “Earthy, mineral , black cherry and blackberry aromas. It’s finely textured and the freshness builds through the palate, reaching a long, intense savoury finish…shows its altitude.”
Sarah Jane Evans, MW / BBC Good Food Magazine Wine Editor
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