Unoaked Red Wine From Spain's Central Plateau

The Tempranillo grapes for the 2023 El Jefe were harvested from sustainably farmed family vineyards in the northern part of the central mesa, known as Castile-Leon. The wine was fermented in traditional cement vats, and it is unoaked, a rarity in Tempranillo wine. 

Unoaked red wines are always a joy for me to try, and this one is no exception. It reminds me of Beaujolais Nouveaux, but with some differences. The nose and palate are very earthy, not nearly as fruit-dominated as one might expect. The alcohol content is 12.5% abv and the price was $17 at Larchmont Wine, Spirits and Cheese in the Larchmont village portion of Los Angeles. It comes in a one liter bottle, and was imported by Vinos Libres Wine Merchants of New York City,

This wine is fairly dark colored and smells of blackberry fruit and tar. It’s not a very complex nose. The palate brings similar earth tones, very bold and dark, with none of the oak spice that generally finds its way into a red wine. The tannins are rather soft, but there is enough there to make it a decent pairing with a steak. If you have never tasted an unoaked red wine, it’s worth a $20 bill with some change back. 

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