Red grapeSommo grape guide

Cabernet - Merlot - Tempranillo

Cabernet - Merlot - Tempranillo wine guide: what this red grape tastes like, where it comes from, the regions that grow it, and what to eat with it.

Colour
Red
Body
Medium-full
Origin
Spain
Top region
Ribera del Duero
5
Key regions
3
Pairings
2
Synonyms

Cabernet - Merlot - Tempranillo is a red blend rather than a single variety, and it traces back to Ribera del Duero, Navarra, Spain.

Structurally it lands at medium-full body, medium-high tannin, medium acidity, dry and medium alcohol.

Look for black fruit, red fruit, spice, leather, vanilla and oak.

In the cellar it meets american oak.

The regions that matter for it are Ribera del Duero, Navarra, Costers del Segre and Penedes.

In the vineyard it is marked by late ripening, medium vigour and a preference for continental, warm days and cooler nights.

It blends readily with Tempranillo, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Watch for the synonyms: CabMerTem and Cabernet-Merlot-Tempranillo.

At the table it suits grilled lamb chops, baked meatballs and manchego cheese.

The structure.

Body
Medium-full
Tannin
Medium-high
Acidity
Medium
Sweetness
Dry
Alcohol
Medium
Flavours
black fruitred fruitspiceleather
Aromas
vanillaoakearthherbaceous
Cellar
American oak
Styles
dry red

Where it grows.

Blends well with.

Food pairings.

01 Grilled lamb chops
02 Baked meatballs
03 Manchego cheese

Also labelled.

CabMerTem, Cabernet-Merlot-Tempranillo.

Bottles to look for.

  • Arinzano 'Hacienda de Arinzano' Tinto, Vino de Pago, Spain
  • Bodega Otazu Pago de Otazu Tinto, Vino de Pago, Spain
  • Bodega Otazu Premium Cuvee, Navarra, Spain
  • Bodega Pago de Cirsus 'Vendimia Seleccionada', Vino de Pago Bolandin, Spain
  • Bodegas Bohorquez, Ribera del Duero, Spain
  • Bodegas Carmelo Rodero TSM, Ribera del Duero, Spain
  • Bodegas Gran Feudo Reserva Tinto, Navarra, Spain
  • Bodegas Hermanos Sastre 'Vina Sastre' Pesus, Ribera del Duero, Spain

Cabernet - Merlot - Tempranillo: common questions

01.
What does Cabernet - Merlot - Tempranillo taste like?
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Cabernet - Merlot - Tempranillo tastes of black fruit, red fruit, spice, leather, vanilla and oak, plus two more. Structurally it lands at medium-full body, medium-high tannin, medium acidity, dry and medium alcohol.
02.
Where is Cabernet - Merlot - Tempranillo from?
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Cabernet - Merlot - Tempranillo originates in Ribera del Duero, Navarra, Spain.
03.
Where is Cabernet - Merlot - Tempranillo grown?
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The key regions for Cabernet - Merlot - Tempranillo are Ribera del Duero, Navarra, Costers del Segre, Penedes and Somontano.
04.
What food pairs with Cabernet - Merlot - Tempranillo?
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Pour it with grilled lamb chops, baked meatballs and manchego cheese.
05.
What else is Cabernet - Merlot - Tempranillo called?
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Cabernet - Merlot - Tempranillo is also labelled CabMerTem and Cabernet-Merlot-Tempranillo.

Keep going: the A to Z grape index, or the wine regions of Spain.

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