Tasting Note
It doesn’t get much more obscure than finding the Spanish tempranillo grape bottled as a single variety in Prince Edward County. But it was one of the most pleasant surprises of a late fall visit to the County. It is such a pretty, juicy red with lifted red cherry, red rose and vanillin aromas blasting from the glass. It is light to medium bodied, open knit, super fresh yet supple with deft blush of sweetness. It then narrows and becomes leaner on the finish with a lick of County minerality. The length is very good to excellent. A light chill will work nicely. Tasted November 2025
Backgrounder
Rosehall Run was one of the very first PEC wineries. The land on Greer Road near the hamlet of Rosehall was purchased in 2000 by Dan and Lynn Sullivan, and business partner Cam Reston. The first vintage in 2004 was almost exclusively given pinot noir and chardonnay, the County’s signatures. But Dan is one of those restless, tinkering, experiment-prone winemakers, and in 2013 he decided to plant tempranillo – 1000 vines to be exact. He was likely seduced by the knowledge that tempranillo translates as the ‘the little early one” (as in early ripening) which would be crucial in PEC’s shorter season. He said that it in the County it ripens about the same time as cabernet franc. And he also knew it likes limestone soils which are the whole essence of PEC. He made his first attempt to make tempranillo with Rioja in mind, but it came off as overly oaked. In this vintage he has backed off, using 75% five-year old American oak barrels and 25% new French, but only held for eight months. The result is delicious. This is a sneak peek for CBW subscribers of a wine that won’t be released to the public until later this year. This link takes you to the special offer https://www.rosehallrun.com/product#/2024-estate-grown-tempranillo
