Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Tempranillo 2007, Navarra, Spain

Let me start off by saying I think this wine suffers from some transportation issues.  The grapes are from Navarra, Spain and yet this Tempranillo is bottled in Geyserville, CA.  Um, not a fresh-sounding process.  Anyway, this wine is about as unpleasant as the grape-shipping process.  My very well-meaning mother bought this bottle and a bottle of La Crema Chardonnay (one of my favorites, I reviewed it here earlier) for me for Christmas.  The La Crema is gone.  This bottle has been sitting open on our counter since it was opened on Christmas.  That's how awful this Tempranillo is.  


The nose the Francis Coppola is downright off-putting.  I couldn't really tell what it smelled like given the overwhelming odor of alcohol.  It's only 13.5%.  Uncalled for.  The first taste did change my bad first impression... it made it worse.  These grapes must've been picked way too young, because the tannins are so overwhelming.  The mouthfeel is really terrible, drying out your mouth and your tongue to the point of being uncomfortable.  I felt like I needed to drink water in between every sip.  I poured myself a tasting-size portion (about an ounce) and couldn't even bring myself to finish that.  Ouch.

Technical Info:

Varietal: 100% Tempranillo 

Alcohol: 13.5% 

Origin: Navarra, Spain; bottled in Geyserville, CA

Price: $17 at Target and most grocery stores

Rachel's Grade: F   This is $17 my mother will never get back for a wine that shouldn't even be served out of a box.  I thought my bottle might have been corked, but it didn't quite taste right for that.  I looked up others' reviews and people had similar feelings- not good, but not corked.  I love Tempranillo and feel awful for anybody this wine has alienated from that varietal!  Don't buy.  Just don't.