Tempranillo! The grape that made Calaveras County famous! (OK, along with frogs, Mark Twain, and an infamous archeological hoax… I’m looking at you, Clampers!)
Tempranillo! Ten years ago you couldn’t even say “Tem-prah-NEE-yoh” and now, you - ladies and gentlemen - from what was only an inarticulate mass of Cab-swirling tissue, I give you a Cultured, Sophisticated Tempranillo lover about town!
Now get out there and put on that ritz!
This Tempranillo is a blend of our own estate fruit and fruit from other local vineyards. You can’t go wrong serving this with grilled pork, ribs, or a nice paella!
Specs
Varietal: Tempranillo
Appellation: Sierra Foothills
Alcohol: 14.5%
2017 Twisted Oak “The Thief” Tempranillo “Toro”, Sierra Foothills
Tasting Notes
In the summer of 2019 we acquired our first-ever winery cats. After a naming contest the two boys were dubbed “Tank” and “Crusher”, and the little girl became “Thief” - after that turkey-baster-like thingy we use to suck wine out of a barrel. Sadly, Thief passed away just a couple of months later, but not before she stole our hearts. This tasty Toro is for her.
“Toro” Tempranillo is a different clone than most of the Tempranillo out there. (Regular Tempranillo is called “Clone 1” in the biz - true!) Toro is a more full-bodied red that is at home with a juicy rib eye or any umami-rich dish (mushrooms!) We source our Toro from Metate Vineyards near Angels Camp, CA - right down the road from us.
Specs
Varietal: Tempranillo
Appellation: Sierra Foothills
Alcohol: 13.5%
2017 Twisted Oak Tempranillo, Sierra Foothills
Tasting Notes
Tempranillo! The grape that made Calaveras County famous! (OK, along with frogs, Mark Twain, and an infamous archeological hoax… I’m looking at you, Clampers!)
Tempranillo! Ten years ago you couldn’t even say “Tem-prah-NEE-yoh” and now, you - ladies and gentlemen - from what was only an inarticulate mass of Cab-swirling tissue, I give you a Cultured, Sophisticated Tempranillo lover about town!
Now get out there and put on that ritz!
This Tempranillo is a blend of our own estate fruit and fruit from other local vineyards. You can’t go wrong serving this with grilled pork, ribs, or a nice paella!
Specs
Varietal: Tempranillo
Appellation: Sierra Foothills
Alcohol: 14.5%
What’s Included
3-bottles:
1x 2018 Twisted Oak Tempranillo, Sierra Foothills
1x 2017 Twisted Oak “The Thief” Tempranillo “Toro”, Sierra Foothills
1x 2017 Twisted Oak Tempranillo, Sierra Foothills Case:
6x 2018 Twisted Oak Tempranillo, Sierra Foothills
4x 2017 Twisted Oak “The Thief” Tempranillo “Toro”, Sierra Foothills
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.
Jeff and Mary found 120 acres just outside Murphys in the Sierra Foothills at nearly 2000 feet elevation. It is there that they planted 10 acres of vineyards in Tempranillo, Grenache, Graciano, and Garnacha to take advantage of the continental Mediterranean soil types and climate. It is on top of this property, with an amazing view of the Sierras, where the state-of-the-art, no-pumpover, four-level gravity flow winery was built. When completed in 2004 it included open tank, stainless steel fermenters along with our own 300-foot barrel cave. This is all under the watchful eye of a 350 year old California Blue Oak tree that not only is our namesake, but also adorns every Twisted Oak bottle.
Jeff and Mary work closely with winemaker Scott Klann in crafting the Twisted Oak wines. Scott has been in the wine making business over 15 years. Scott’s knowledge of what works best is unmatched in the area (it doesn’t hurt that he was raised in Murphys.) Scott’s experience and personal relationships with the growers in Calaveras County allows Twisted Oak Winery to purchase the best fruit from these outstanding vineyards to complement our estate grape programs. Whatever the formula Jeff, Mary and Scott, have devised for Twisted Oak, it has been validated by the hundreds of consumers that buy us out of wine each and every year. Twisted Oak Winery has also received accolades by publications and competitions which have graced us with many scores of 90 or above. We think the Wine Enthusiast put it best “The gang at Twisted Oak Winery are taking winemaking in this area to the next level…” Cheers! And always, keep it Twisted! Twisted Oak Winery!
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
The last time Twisted Oak was on here I bought a mixed case and liked most of the wines. This one, The Thief, is new to me, and it has some age on it, since it is a 2017. It is 100% Tempranillo.
The cork showed some slight signs of seepage, but the fill level was fine.
Color: inky, with little or no browning.
On the nose: black olives, mint, forest floor.
In the mouth: a boatload of tannins, but softened by time into a wonderful chewiness. Big black cherry fruit, no doubt due to the 13.5% alcohol, but the tannins really balance it. Quite varietal, very much like Rioja. A fruity, tannic finish for at least 30 seconds.
Later: picks up a lot of pine needles and wood in the nose. Quite fun!
I really like this wine, and would definitely purchase it. Sadly, I cannot. This is my last Casemates post, as we are moving to Canada, where you can’t get gems like this from smaller wineries. So I will think back enviously on my Casemates days, and hope you enjoy all the great wines! Salud!
@jmdavidson1@rjquillin@salcorn
His racks are much nicer than mine. Enjoy Canada, Salcorn! This time last year I was in the Canadian Rockies. Can’t wait to go back.
I was out of town part of last week; thankfully we were able to accept the delivery. However, due to that and other chaos, we didn’t have a chance to open this up until late yesterday evening. Here’s what we noted upon doing so…
2017 Twisted Oak Tempranillo - Calaveras County - CA
Look & Smell
Screw top, dark red, nice legs, hints of berry, pepper, and spice
Initial Taste
Her - fruit / plum, dry finish with zero chalkiness
Him - cherry, dried fruit, perhaps a slight hint of cedar, clearly dry but a pleasant fruitiness on the first sip, a little heat going down (it’s 14.5%)
Pairings
As per usual, we ran a quick tasting against a random collection of things on hand.
Parmesan Reggiano - good pairing, smooth, maybe a hint of anise
Goat Cheese - great pairing, smooth, earthy
Smoked Cheddar - good pairing, pepper
Chipotle Cheddar - good pairing, but less flavor and a little heat on the finish
Habanero Jack - good pairing, plays nicely against the heat, smooth
Cashews - good pairing, pepper, a slight vegetal hint
Dried Cherries - good pairing, sweet in a nicely complimentary way, more fruit (blackberry?)
Korean BBQ Pork Jerky - good pairing, earthy, oaky, plays nicely against the sweet soy marinade
Italian Meatballs - good pairing, holds up well to the beef / pork / romano
Caramel Corn - surprisingly ok pairing, a nice balance of pepper / spice against the sweetness
Pork Tamales - good pairing (to me), lots of pepper
Overall
It was a pleasure to try a varietal on for size where only ~1% of the world’s production is domestic.
This one clearly shines both as a solo sipper and alongside a solid variety of foods. While we didn’t necessarily uncover any Oscar-worthy pairings, it complemented to nearly everything we threw at it nicely. I’m sure it would be great with grilled meats / BBQ, but that just wasn’t on our menu this week.
SWMBO thought it would be priced in the $12-$15 range, which she seems to have nailed. I will admit I’m not sure I’d buy at the retail price, but it’s a solid value in this here offering.
@CruelMelody@rjquillin Yeah noticed that too but it’s good to point it out. I’m assuming it’s just a difference in warehouse stock to balance out. But the small order “penalty” (some would say full case discount) difference isn’t so bad, so for me might just go for a small order. I’ve had some of these before (not sure of vintage) and have always enjoyed them.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
Twisted Oak Tempranillo Triad - $30 = 14.99%
I really appreciate the 3 bottle to case pricing ratio in this offer. A three pack of three wines adds to the dream of opening the wine fridge every night and trying something new.
@CruelMelody@rjquillin There will be an ownership change soon. I do hope to continue with the brand in a limited capacity. I will make sure the new owners are aware of Casemates and why it’s a cool deal for everyone!
@CruelMelody@eljefetwisted@rjquillin
Ownership change? I’d say, “Say it ain’t so, el jefe!!”, but I do hope you’re sliding into a much deserved retirement! (Retirement is sweet!). Twisted Oak is one of my few remaining auto-buys- I was first on the map last night! I missed quite a few offers because Tennessee wasn’t a ship-to state last times I checked, and I’m running low on The Spaniard and could use some potty mouth! Thank you for many years of goodness! (But you did say you hope to continue on a limited basis, so I do hope that works out well for you- and us al!)
@CruelMelody@eljefetwisted@rjquillin
Jeff, as a multi-year member of the Twisted Few, I shall miss your amazing sense of humor and your natural ability to make some of the best damn wines out there. Thank you for your service to the wine world Sir!!
@CruelMelody@dkrupps@rjquillin aw thanks! I fully expect Really Yummy Wines to continue to flow from here, especially since we still have vintages yet to be bottled!
@CruelMelody@eljefetwisted@rjquillin will the new owners keep it a family affair? Far too many that get sold to large companies have a serious decline.
Reverse Wine Snob, 2018 Sierra Foothills:
Highly Recommended. The 2018 Twisted Oak Tempranillo opens with an attractive aroma of black cherry, spice and balsamic plus a little vanilla and licorice, a bit of leather and lots of other secondary touches that come from a wine with some age on it.
Taking a sip reveals a balanced, smooth and savory wine with similar flavors to the nose. It does need a little time to open up but then it’s really delicious. This is lovely stuff! It ends dry, long and a bit grippy on the finish. This is a savory example of Tempranillo staying quite true to the variety. It was just as good on day 2. 5/31/24
This weekend we appreciated the opportunity to drink a bottle of Twisted Oak 2018 Calaveras County Tempranillo.
We paired it with our roast chicken dinner. The deep red color was nice, and it had a pleasant smell of cherries. The wine tasted good, with flavors of ripe berries, and a bit of pepper that paired well with the chicken. The finish left a hint of vanilla and Oak.
My wife found the wine smooth and liked the fruity flavors, especially the blackberries and figs. She thought it complemented the chicken well without being too overpowering. Dow also noticed a slight earthy taste. She said she thought it was a good value if priced sub $20 (looks like it is).
Our friend Nick enjoyed the strong fruit scents and the subtle spices. He also thought the wine was easy to drink and balanced the richness of the chicken nicely. Nick liked the long finish with a bit of tobacco. He agreed that it would be a value at sub $20.
Overall, the Twisted Oak 2018 Tempranillo was a solid wine, especially for the price. It was a good match for our dinner!
My first order in a long time. This one hits the trifecta of a Tempranillo hole in my cellar to be filled, a winery I’ve liked in the past, and a solid QPR deal.
In for a 3 pk. Love TO!
El Jefe, I’m sad to hear we probably won’t be seeing you around here in the neer future. But hope you will have fun enjoying retirement or whatever your future plans are. I’ve enjoyed meeting you during previous trips out to the vineyard with fellow wooters.
Thanks for making great wine and sharing great deals with us! Cheers!
Seems like a lot of small owners are retiring lately. I too have no room but might be able to squeeze in a few three packs. I love Tempranillo, and the FOMO on this is high.
2018 Twisted Oak Tempranillo, Sierra Foothills
Tasting Notes
Specs
2017 Twisted Oak “The Thief” Tempranillo “Toro”, Sierra Foothills
Tasting Notes
Specs
2017 Twisted Oak Tempranillo, Sierra Foothills
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
3-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$476.00/Case for 6x 2018 Twisted Oak Tempranillo, Sierra Foothills + 4x 2017 Twisted Oak “The Thief” Tempranillo “Toro”, Sierra Foothills + 2x 2017 Twisted Oak Tempranillo, Sierra Foothills at Twisted Oak Winery
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Aug 12 - Tuesday, Aug 13
Twisted Oak Tempranillo Triad
3 bottles for $49.99 $16.66/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $169.99 $14.17/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2017 Twisted Oak Tempranillo
2018 Twisted Oak Tempranillo
2017 Twisted Oak “The Thief” Tempranillo
Wow, that available state list expanded greatly since the last TO offer!
2017 Twisted Oak “The Thief”
The last time Twisted Oak was on here I bought a mixed case and liked most of the wines. This one, The Thief, is new to me, and it has some age on it, since it is a 2017. It is 100% Tempranillo.
The cork showed some slight signs of seepage, but the fill level was fine.
Color: inky, with little or no browning.
On the nose: black olives, mint, forest floor.
In the mouth: a boatload of tannins, but softened by time into a wonderful chewiness. Big black cherry fruit, no doubt due to the 13.5% alcohol, but the tannins really balance it. Quite varietal, very much like Rioja. A fruity, tannic finish for at least 30 seconds.
Later: picks up a lot of pine needles and wood in the nose. Quite fun!
I really like this wine, and would definitely purchase it. Sadly, I cannot. This is my last Casemates post, as we are moving to Canada, where you can’t get gems like this from smaller wineries. So I will think back enviously on my Casemates days, and hope you enjoy all the great wines! Salud!
@salcorn Thank you for your review. Good luck with the move and travels.
@Burns72 Thank you!
@salcorn thank you for the great reviews and best of luck in Canada.
@Leatherchair Thank you!
@salcorn Nice looking wine rack setup.
@jmdavidson1 @salcorn And…the wine was approved by a CAT scan!
@jmdavidson1 @Mark_L LOL
@jmdavidson1 @salcorn
I think he poached a cellar pic from @chipgreen for the background
@jmdavidson1 @rjquillin @salcorn
His racks are much nicer than mine. Enjoy Canada, Salcorn! This time last year I was in the Canadian Rockies. Can’t wait to go back.
I was out of town part of last week; thankfully we were able to accept the delivery. However, due to that and other chaos, we didn’t have a chance to open this up until late yesterday evening. Here’s what we noted upon doing so…
2017 Twisted Oak Tempranillo - Calaveras County - CA
Look & Smell
Screw top, dark red, nice legs, hints of berry, pepper, and spice
Initial Taste
Her - fruit / plum, dry finish with zero chalkiness
Him - cherry, dried fruit, perhaps a slight hint of cedar, clearly dry but a pleasant fruitiness on the first sip, a little heat going down (it’s 14.5%)
Pairings
As per usual, we ran a quick tasting against a random collection of things on hand.
Overall
It was a pleasure to try a varietal on for size where only ~1% of the world’s production is domestic.
This one clearly shines both as a solo sipper and alongside a solid variety of foods. While we didn’t necessarily uncover any Oscar-worthy pairings, it complemented to nearly everything we threw at it nicely. I’m sure it would be great with grilled meats / BBQ, but that just wasn’t on our menu this week.
SWMBO thought it would be priced in the $12-$15 range, which she seems to have nailed. I will admit I’m not sure I’d buy at the retail price, but it’s a solid value in this here offering.
Just want to point out the ratios are different for 3 vs 12
@CruelMelody
Good call, anything other than sa 6/6 case split would be awkward
@CruelMelody @rjquillin Yeah noticed that too but it’s good to point it out. I’m assuming it’s just a difference in warehouse stock to balance out. But the small order “penalty” (some would say full case discount) difference isn’t so bad, so for me might just go for a small order. I’ve had some of these before (not sure of vintage) and have always enjoyed them.
@CruelMelody Good idea. I bit on 2 3 packs. Like many on this site, I already have too much wine. 6 T O’s is just right.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
Twisted Oak Tempranillo Triad - $30 = 14.99%
Note: difference of mixture between full case and 3 bottles not taken into consideration in savings calculation.
I can just not pass up a TO offer. I really need to become a club member
/giphy nebular-moping-parsnip
In for 2 3 packs. I like the even split on the 3-pack and don’t need a whole case.
/giphy versed-melodic-property
/giphy divided-momentous-cub
I really appreciate the 3 bottle to case pricing ratio in this offer. A three pack of three wines adds to the dream of opening the wine fridge every night and trying something new.
Thanks for adding MD to the list, happy to buy as much Twisted Oak as I can!!
I’m here if you have any questions! -el jefe from Twisted Oak
@eljefetwisted in for a case because A) I love your wine and
WD implied this could but your last offer here! 
@CruelMelody @eljefetwisted
Yeah. 'Mates here wanna know what’s up…
@eljefetwisted @rjquillin ha B ) turns into a sunglasses face
@CruelMelody @rjquillin There will be an ownership change soon. I do hope to continue with the brand in a limited capacity. I will make sure the new owners are aware of Casemates and why it’s a cool deal for everyone!
@CruelMelody @eljefetwisted @rjquillin
Ownership change? I’d say, “Say it ain’t so, el jefe!!”, but I do hope you’re sliding into a much deserved retirement! (Retirement is sweet!). Twisted Oak is one of my few remaining auto-buys- I was first on the map last night! I missed quite a few offers because Tennessee wasn’t a ship-to state last times I checked, and I’m running low on The Spaniard and could use some potty mouth! Thank you for many years of goodness! (But you did say you hope to continue on a limited basis, so I do hope that works out well for you- and us al!)
@CruelMelody @eljefetwisted @rjquillin
Jeff, as a multi-year member of the Twisted Few, I shall miss your amazing sense of humor and your natural ability to make some of the best damn wines out there. Thank you for your service to the wine world Sir!!
@CruelMelody @dkrupps @rjquillin aw thanks! I fully expect Really Yummy Wines to continue to flow from here, especially since we still have vintages yet to be bottled!
@CruelMelody @eljefetwisted @rjquillin
Best wishes and much appreciation for the many years of excellent vino. So long and thanks for all the fish!
@CruelMelody @eljefetwisted @rjquillin will the new owners keep it a family affair? Far too many that get sold to large companies have a serious decline.
@CruelMelody @eljefetwisted @klezman @rjquillin The greatly increased ship-to state list makes me wonder that as well.
@CruelMelody @eljefetwisted @rjquillin what? Ownership change? Details please . . .
@CruelMelody @rjquillin @tercerowines I can’t comment yet…
Reverse Wine Snob, 2018 Sierra Foothills:
Highly Recommended. The 2018 Twisted Oak Tempranillo opens with an attractive aroma of black cherry, spice and balsamic plus a little vanilla and licorice, a bit of leather and lots of other secondary touches that come from a wine with some age on it.
Taking a sip reveals a balanced, smooth and savory wine with similar flavors to the nose. It does need a little time to open up but then it’s really delicious. This is lovely stuff! It ends dry, long and a bit grippy on the finish. This is a savory example of Tempranillo staying quite true to the variety. It was just as good on day 2. 5/31/24
Think that’s it…
fwiw
/giphy royal-picky-operation
el jefe + Tempranillo? Auto-buy! In for a lovely case.
Cheers!
This weekend we appreciated the opportunity to drink a bottle of Twisted Oak 2018 Calaveras County Tempranillo.
We paired it with our roast chicken dinner. The deep red color was nice, and it had a pleasant smell of cherries. The wine tasted good, with flavors of ripe berries, and a bit of pepper that paired well with the chicken. The finish left a hint of vanilla and Oak.
My wife found the wine smooth and liked the fruity flavors, especially the blackberries and figs. She thought it complemented the chicken well without being too overpowering. Dow also noticed a slight earthy taste. She said she thought it was a good value if priced sub $20 (looks like it is).
Our friend Nick enjoyed the strong fruit scents and the subtle spices. He also thought the wine was easy to drink and balanced the richness of the chicken nicely. Nick liked the long finish with a bit of tobacco. He agreed that it would be a value at sub $20.
Overall, the Twisted Oak 2018 Tempranillo was a solid wine, especially for the price. It was a good match for our dinner!
My first order in a long time. This one hits the trifecta of a Tempranillo hole in my cellar to be filled, a winery I’ve liked in the past, and a solid QPR deal.
In for a case (because, why not?)
/giphy fictitious-hanging-nation
In for a 3 pk. Love TO!
El Jefe, I’m sad to hear we probably won’t be seeing you around here in the neer future. But hope you will have fun enjoying retirement or whatever your future plans are. I’ve enjoyed meeting you during previous trips out to the vineyard with fellow wooters.
Thanks for making great wine and sharing great deals with us! Cheers!
@mommadeb I’ll pop back here now and then when I have news
@eljefetwisted I’m glad you’re not leaving us!
Never don’t buy.
/giphy laboring-penultimate-arsenic
Seems like a lot of small owners are retiring lately. I too have no room but might be able to squeeze in a few three packs. I love Tempranillo, and the FOMO on this is high.
/giphy teachable-moaning-root
I need to reduce the grumpiness levels, this should do it…
/giphy stylish-good-marble
Yet another tempting deal that I reluctantly have to turn up my (non-smelling) nose at.
We love our Twisting Oak wines! Gracias, por todo! @eljefetwisted
/giphy naughty-horrific-crane