WineLife365

Tempra Tantrum is the newest label from Spain’s Osborne Group and is imported by Underdog Wine Merchants.  The Osborne Group has been crafting fine sherry, brandy, wine and liqueur since 1772.   The group’s new line-up of Tempra Tantrum wines is the creation of Ms. Rocio Osborne.  Rocio’s philosophy for these new and modern style Spanish wines is to “promote the soft, generous fruitiness of the grapes, while retaining just the right amount of structure and complexity unique to the vineyards and soil of the Tierra de Castilla.”  Rocio refers to this philosophy as a “Nuevo Vino” approach.

From the first sip of the 2009 Tempra Tantrum Tempranillo (60%) / Shiraz (40%) blend (Sample, $12 MSRP), one gets a sense of Rocio’s “Nuevo Vino” approach.  With its bright and sweet, raspberry, strawberry, and subtle spice flavors – this wine is very approachable.  In particular, I can see this red wine being a big hit with people who say, “I don’t drink red wine because they’re way too dry.”  In these situations, soft and fruit-driven red wines like Beaujolais or Beaujolais Nouveau are often recommended as a primer for red wine initiates, but I’d have no problem recommending this Spanish red as well. However, with its fruity sweetness, I was not left with thoughts of Tantrums…rather, a mild sulk.

2 Stars out of 4 for the 2009 Tempra Tantrum Tempranillo/Shiraz blend.