Tempranillo 2022 - Black Market Deal #66840

This McLaren Vale Tempranillo showcases the Australian interpretation of Spain's noble grape, where the warmer climate and unique terroir create a more fruit-forward profile with cherry and strawberry notes. The Mediterranean-like conditions of McLaren Vale allow the grape to ripen fully while retaining the variety's characteristic leather and earthy undertones. Fox Creek's winemaking approach emphasises the textured, savoury qualities that make Australian Tempranillo a distinctive expression of this international variety.

McLaren Vale's warm, dry climate and diverse soils mirror the conditions of Spain's best Tempranillo regions, making it one of Australia's premier locations for this variety. The region's proximity to the ocean provides cooling influences that help maintain acidity while allowing full flavour development. The combination of ancient soils and Mediterranean climate creates the perfect environment for producing the textured, savoury style that defines quality Australian Tempranillo.

A 4.1 Vivino rating places this wine in the 'very good' category, reflecting consistent quality that resonates with everyday wine drinkers worldwide. This rating suggests the wine delivers excellent value and drinking pleasure, particularly impressive for a 2022 vintage that's still developing. The rating indicates Fox Creek has crafted a Tempranillo that balances approachability with complexity, making it both enjoyable now and worthy of short-term cellaring.

Serve this wine at 16-18°C to highlight its cherry and strawberry fruit while allowing the leather and savoury notes to emerge. The medium body and textured style make it perfect with grilled meats, Spanish tapas, or aged cheeses where the wine's savoury character can complement rich flavours. Its balanced structure also pairs beautifully with Mediterranean cuisine, particularly dishes featuring herbs, olives, and tomato-based sauces.

The 2022 vintage represents a 'Killer Vintage' according to the ratings, suggesting exceptional growing conditions that year in McLaren Vale. At this young age, the wine will display vibrant primary fruit flavours of cherry and strawberry, with the leather notes providing complexity and the textured mouthfeel adding structure. While delicious now, this vintage has the potential to develop more savoury complexity over the next 3-5 years as the tannins integrate and secondary flavours emerge.