Tempranillo is a vibrant, aromatic varietal that offers spicy, red fruit aromas and flavors. The varietal is at its best in top Riojas, where oak aging is employed offering increased complexity and harmony. From the best sites, these wines can be remarkably concentrated with great aging potential. The variety is also predominant in Ribero del Duero where it generally sees less oak treatment. In Portugal, Tempranillo is called Tinta Roriz in Portugal, where it is used to produce wines that are fragrant and complex, with good color, body, backbone, and resistance to oxidation despite possessing only moderate acidity. The second most widely planted variety in the Douro, it is increasingly popular as a stand-alone variety for dry red wines. (Tinta Roriz is called Aragonez in Alentejo, where it is softer and more liqueur-like.)—ST