2017 King Estate Sonrisa Tempranillo

Tasting Notes

Early-budding and early-ripening (temprano means “early” in Spanish), Tempranillo is a black grape variety often referred to as Spain’s noble grape. Ripe strawberries and bright pomegranate lead off, joined by dry raspberries, blueberry, clove, toast, graham cracker, leather, forest floor, truffle, rose water and dark chocolate. On the mid-palate classic big, bold, dusty tannins take over and carry through for a lingering finish.

Vineyard Notes

Sonrisa Vineyard grows three acres of Tempranillo grapes on its 10-acre site in the Rattlesnake Hills AVA within the famed Columbia Valley. At 1,200 feet elevation, the vineyard experiences diurnal ranges of up to 50 degrees or more during the growing season. Sonrisa adheres to an old-world growing philosophy, cropping low for the highest quality, letting the land drive the varietals and keeping chemicals out of the vineyard. King Estate is among only a select few vineyard partners fortunate to get fruit from this low intervention, organically managed vineyard.

Winemaker Notes

Fermentation was in stainless steel open top tanks. It was cold soaked, pumped over and punched down. Aged 27 months in 46% new oak (40% French, 40% Hungarian and 20% American).

Technical Notes

• Vintage 2017
• Varietal
• Appellation Columbia Valley
• Alcohol 13.5
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