Coquerel Wines Terroir Tempranillo 2023 750ml

Product Info

Terroir
The 2023 Terroir Tempranillo from Coquerel Wines is an expressive Napa Valley red rooted in the storied soils of Calistoga and surrounding hillside vineyards. This region’s Mediterranean climate — warm days tempered by cooling Pacific breezes — allows Tempranillo to achieve full ripeness while preserving bright acidity and aromatic nuance.

The vineyard sites for this wine benefit from a mosaic of volcanic, alluvial, and rocky soils that provide excellent drainage and stress the vines just enough to concentrate flavors. In this context, Tempranillo thrives, yielding fruit that is rich and layered yet retains clarity and tension. This interplay of warmth and elevation fosters wines that are both generous and structured, with a sense of place that reflects the dynamic soils and microclimates of northern Napa Valley.

Winemaking & Technical Notes
Coquerel’s approach to crafting the Terroir Tempranillo honors both varietal purity and balanced integration. After harvest, grapes are carefully sorted and destemmed to ensure only the best fruit goes into fermentation. The wine undergoes a controlled fermentation, allowing optimal extraction of color, flavor, and tannin without harshness.

Malolactic fermentation softens acidity and adds textural richness, while maturation in a blend of French oak barrels (with a judicious proportion of new wood) enhances complexity without overwhelming the grape’s inherent character. The result is a wine that showcases Tempranillo’s signature red and dark fruit profile with subtle spice, earth, and savory nuances.

The wine typically presents a balanced alcohol level and a firm but approachable tannic structure that supports both early drinking and short-to-medium term aging.

Tasting Notes
The 2023 Terroir Tempranillo opens with an inviting bouquet of ripe red cherry, black plum, and wild berry, layered with notes of dried herbs, tobacco leaf, and a whisper of sweet spice. Subtle earthy undertones — forest floor and iron — add depth and complexity on the nose.

On the palate, this Tempranillo is medium-to-full in body with a vibrant core of red and dark fruit framed by supple tannins and bright, refreshing acidity. Flavors of raspberry, currant, and dark cherry are joined by hints of clove, black pepper, and a touch of cedar from oak aging. The texture is smooth yet structured, culminating in a lingering finish where fruit and savory spice echo in harmony.

Food Pairing & Service
Serve slightly below typical room temperature — around 60–64°F (15–18°C) — in a medium-bodied red wine glass to highlight both aromatic detail and palate structure. A short decant (20–30 minutes) can help open the wine’s aromatic layers.

This Tempranillo pairs beautifully with dishes that echo its savory and fruit-driven profile. Try it with grilled flank steak with chimichurri, braised lamb shoulder with rosemary, or pork tenderloin with roasted root vegetables. It also complements richer tomato-based Italian classics like osso buco or pappardelle with wild boar ragu, where its acidity and spice lift the dish without overpowering.

For cheese pairings, consider aged Manchego or smoked Gouda, which mirror the wine’s savory depth and red fruit undertones.

Cellaring Potential
The 2023 Terroir Tempranillo is approachable now but built with enough structure to benefit from short-term cellaring. Expect this wine to evolve gracefully over the next 4–7 years, with tannins softening and tertiary notes of leather, dried herbs, and forest floor becoming more pronounced.

While enjoyable upon release with moderate decanting, holding bottles into the late 2020s will reward you with added complexity and a more integrated texture.