WHAT TO DRINK WHILE YOUR LOPEZ IS AGING
Oh, Lopez, how I love thee! And there is a reason for that. There are few more iconic producers of Tempranillo than the infamous Lopez de Heredia. Alas, Lopez is not always readily available, and while its not wildly expensive, for many of us its expensive enough that you dont really want to open a bottle on a Tuesday night. So while your Lopez is aging¦ this is what you should be drinking: 2008 Anciano 10-Years Gran Reserva Tempranillo. I know, 14 year old for Tempranillo for only $14? HOW? Well, Spanish Tempranillo (with a few expectations) tends not to be crazy expensive, which is great. And a lot of the time, consumers are looking for Tempranillo from Rioja, when in reality, there are great examples of this lovely wine made throughout Spain. This example comes from the Valdepeñas DO in the heart of Spain surrounded by the larger DO of La Mancha. 2008 is an excellent vintage from this region, with little precipitation and almost ideal growing conditions for Tempranillo. 18 months of oak aging in a mix of French and American oak give this wine subtle notes of coconut, vanilla, and caramel, while the age has allowed the fruit on it to mellow - think dried red cherries, raspberry, dried earth, and a little bit of spice. Its a great expression of this Iconic Spanish wine at a price-point that allows you to feel great about opening it on a Tuesday night and saving that Lopez and other fancy wine for special occasions.
-MVT
