2016 Allégorie Tempranillo
The Winery
Allégorie Wine is located at 432 Main Street in downtown Murphys. The tasting room is in a 160 year old apothecary building. They have reconstructed the tasting room and the outside patio seating area. The winery is now under new ownership with Loren Bishop who took over two years ago. He is also the new winemaker. I have not visited them nor tasted their new lineup but spent an hour with Loren yesterday on the phone and he has some very unique business plans, including no charge for tasting! When greeting customers, he asks if he can tell the 11 second Tempranillo story. So I said yes, and it truly was 11 seconds and encompasses how he ended up as the owner & winemaker! If you visit, truly a good story.
The Wine – 2016 Tempranillo
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The wine was a royal purple on the eyes and with a medium heavy viscosity. On the nose beautiful cherry and plum waft into the senses. On the palate, the luscious red and purple fruits break loose in the mouth followed by soft leather, pipe tobacco and clove. A full on mouth filling wine. On the finish, a light oak taste with defined by not sharp tannins. A beautiful representation of Sierra Foothills Tempranillo. The current release is the 2017 and it sells for $38/bottle but with limited supply.
The Food & Wine Pairing
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Pulled this bottle of wine to go with our dinner two nights ago. The wine was chosen this evening in order to cut through the beef used in the “taco meat” for the Taco Salad. The ingredients for the Taco Salad including a bed of iceberg lettuce, the cooked and seasoned ground beef, shredded Cheddar cheese and topped off with sliced purple onions, quarter cherry tomatoes and drizzled smoky salsa. The slight sweetness of the wine caressed the spiciness of the meal perfectly.
I can’t wait to go visit Loren and do a complete tasting of his older and new releases that include their 2020 S Chardonnay, 2020 Pinot Gris, 2020 B Chardonnay, 2020 Petite Rose, 2018 Artiste, 2017 Rendez Vous, 2016 Zinfandel, 2017 Bene Gusto, 2018 Barbera and many others.
Sláinte,
Michael
California Wines & Wineries 