Black cherries, plums, sweet spice, leather and citrus peel.

The Santa Clara is a traditional Crianza, aged for 12 months, that simply dazzles with verve and personality. Its deep ruby color segues to a textbook Tempranillo bouquet of black cherries, dark plums, cigar tobacco, sweet spices (nutmeg) and saddle leather. The sun has definitely kissed this wine, as the fruit flavor is quite extracted with rich dark plums, brandied cherries, star anise and orange peel. The Tempranillo grape’s noble acidity shines through, leading toward a rich finale of dark cherry fruit and cigar box accents.

The Santa Clara is made by the Viña Santa Marina Winery near Mérida, which is the capital of Extremadura in southwestern Spain. Mérida was one of the most famous Roman capitols of the Iberian Peninsula and features some of the best preserved Roman ruins in Europe. Indeed, recent excavations on the property revealed the presence of a Roman village, including a winepress! Though it is clear the Romans made wine on the site, the actual Viña Santa Marina winery is relatively new. The founders brought together a wealth of experience to make wines with a modern style that can showcase the potential of this lesser known region.

The elegant sweet, ripe flavors and silky textures of this Tempranillo will be delicious with lamb chops. Try our suggested recipe for Grilled Herb Crusted Lamb Chops with Scalloped Potatoes. The dried herb and deep flavors in the wine will complement the fresh herb and smoky flavors picked up from grill. Serve with a crisp green salad on the side and a crusty loaf of bread. Of course you could enjoy the wine on its own with a big piece of Manchego cheese.

The Roman theatre in Mérida erected in the first century B.C. is still the scene of summer plays and can seat 6,000!