Twisted Oak The Spaniard

Tasting notes & discussion 53

Typically $49/bottle from Twisted Oak Winery (gone but never forgotten)
Vintage 2018 from the Sierra Foothills
Available for AZ; CA; CO; CT; DC; FL; GA; IA; ID; IL; IN; KS; LA; MA; MD; ME; MI; MN; MO; MT; NC; ND; NE; NH; NJ; NM; NV; NY; OH; OK; OR; PA; RI; SC; SD; TN; TX; VA; VT; WA; WI; WV; WY
Sold by participating winery or licensee, fulfilled by Wine Country Connect

About Twisted Oak Winery: “We’re often asked what the background of Twisted Oak is, to which we invariably reply, ‘The Sierra Nevada, of course!’ If we are pressed further, we are forced to admit that Twisted Oak Winery is the culmination of a delusion, er, vision by Jeff and Mary Stai. The vision was of a terroir based winery making superior, hand crafted, yummy wines, and then having more Twisted fun than anyone in the industry selling them.”

Vinigo Montoya

TASTING NOTES: “A Rioja-style blend of Tempranillo, Graciano, Garnacha. We have quite a hodgepodge of tasting notes for The Spaniard, so rather than wrap a narrative of questionable cleverness around them, we’re just going to throw them right at you: ‘Cherry Black Currant bomb’ ‘Cedar cherry tobacky’ ‘Great gams’ (gams?) ‘Fruitalicious’” (AbV 14.6%)

VARIETALS: 60% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 30% Garnacha.

BARRELS: 30% new French, American, and Hungarian oak.

PAIRS WITH: “Pair this with Meat! If you don’t ever drink this with lamb, you’re not livin’ right!! Well-marbled beef by itself, or lean cuts of beef with rich sauces. How about a smoked Spanish Paprika rubbed Ribeye topped with thick applewood smoked bacon and Cabrale Spanish Blue? How about it?”

THAT REMINDS ME OF: Well, Inigo Montoya. The Spaniard in The Princess Bride.

We’ve sold Twisted Oak’s The Spaniard before, and I’ve made reference to The Princess Bride with it, but I never really talked about Inigo. His father Domingo was a skilled swordsmith. Commissioned by Count Rugen to make a sword specifically for his six-fingered hand, Rugen refused to pay the requested price. When Domingo refuses to give him the sword because of this, Rugen kills him on the spot. Inigo, only 11 years old, witnesses this and challenges Rugen to a duel. Though Rugen wins quickly, he scars Inigo and leaves the sword with him. Over the next ten years, Inigo trains and becomes the greatest swordsman, only to completely lose track of Rugen. Falling into depression and alcoholism as a result, he is recruited by Vizzini to kidnap and kill Buttercup. And the rest is history.

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