APRIL'S WINE OF THE MONTH--2022 VINA ZORZAL TEMPRANILLO, NAVARRA, SPAIN $15.99

April's Wine of the Month is the 2022 Vina Zorzal Tempranillo from Navarra, Spain. In the heart of Navarra’s Ribera Baja region lays Vina Zorzal. The project of three brothers Inaki, Xabier and Mikel Sanz along with their friend Rafel Regadera. Taking inspiration from their Father Antonio Sanz (founder of Vinicola Corellana) who worked in the wine business for most of his life before starting to produce his own wines in 1989. The sons started Vina Zorzal in 2007 with the goal of focusing on grapes native to Navarra. While Tempranillo is a little more “mainstream” than the varieties they usually work with, when I tried the staff on the 2022, we all really dug it. And given that the 3 cases we brought in during the month of February came and went, it seems like you who have tried it already also liked it!

Located in the village of Corella, the vines for this Tempranillo are over 30 years old. The wine starts off a little tannic, drying out your palate, but really it is just making way for some "juicy" fruit. A medley of black plums, blueberries and black cherries coat the palate and seep into your tastebuds. Light acidity on the finish keeps the overall flavor profile light, a nice medium body red. If you ever pick up a bottle of any of the wines from Vina Zorzal you'll find a colorful bird on them because the winery, and some of its vines, are located right along a forest that is a bird conservation center.