Paxton Tempranillo 2024: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Savoury, Herbal & Food-Friendly

A fragrant, polished Tempranillo that leans into the grape’s savoury side while still keeping plenty of juicy fruit in play. Expect wild medicinal herbs, blueberry gelato, white nectarine and a little sarsaparilla intrigue on the nose, then dark cherry, rhubarb and spice through the palate. It’s medium-bodied, dry and very easy to like, with soft grainy tannins, a velvety glide and enough brightness to keep the whole wine lively rather than heavy.

Highlights

• Certified organic, certified biodynamic and vegan suitable
• Crafted by Paxton Wines — one of McLaren Vale’s leading biodynamic estates
• Wild herbs, blueberry gelato, dark cherry, rhubarb and savoury spice
• Single-vineyard Tempranillo matured for eight months in older French oak
• 93 points from Wine Showcase Magazine for the current release
• 13.5% ABV

Tasting Notes

This Tempranillo shows a lovely mix of brightness and earthiness. Wild medicinal herbs and a rain-washed garden freshness lift the aromatics, while blueberry gelato, white nectarine and sarsaparilla bring an unexpected but very appealing fruit profile. On the palate, dark cherry and stewed rhubarb come forward, supported by soft grainy tannins and a medium-bodied, spice-driven frame. It is polished and approachable, but with enough savoury detail to stay seriously food-friendly.

Winemaking

Each vineyard block was fermented separately in small open-top fermenters and hand plunged for around 14 days until the sugars were completely dry. The wine was then racked into older French oak barriques and puncheons for eight months before blending and bottling. That use of older oak is important here: it shapes the texture and spice without masking Tempranillo’s naturally savoury, herbal personality.

Vineyard & Vintage

The winery notes describe a low-and-slow growing season, with a cold, wet winter, one of the wettest springs in 30 years, cool and windy conditions through flowering, and a much later-than-average harvest. Paxton credits its organic and biodynamic farming for helping the vines remain resilient through those challenges. The result is a vintage with bright acid, delicate flavour layering and good longevity — all of which makes sense in this 2024 Tempranillo.

Why We Love It

This is the kind of red that proves medium-bodied does not mean simple. It has enough plush fruit to be very easy to drink, but the herb, spice and savoury edge keep it interesting. If you like reds that work as well with dinner as they do with one glass before it, this is a very good bottle to have around.

Food Pairing

Tempranillo is brilliant with tapas-style food, roast vegetables and dishes that bring smoke, paprika, tomato or corn. The wine’s acidity and savoury line also make it unexpectedly versatile with lighter proteins and vegetarian plates.

Try matching this wine with →

• Parmesan-crusted snapper with fennel — Find a Recipe
• Roasted vegetable tapas — Find a Recipe
• Mexican corn and beef nachos — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

Ideal for a grazing table, a relaxed dinner with lots of shared plates, or that night when you want a red with plenty of personality but nothing too heavy. It’s also a very good call for people who say they want “something different” without going too far off-piste.

Cellaring

Paxton suggests it drinks well immediately, improves through winter 2025, and is best from 2026 to 2028. So yes, enjoy it now, but there’s enough structure and freshness here to reward a little patience too.

Producer

Paxton is one of McLaren Vale’s benchmark biodynamic estates, founded by viticulturist David Paxton in 1979. The family farms all fruit from its estate vineyards under certified organic and biodynamic principles, with a long-term focus on soil health, biodiversity and varieties suited to a warmer, drier future. Tempranillo was one of the alternative grapes Paxton began trialling because it performs well in Mediterranean climates and uses less water. That practical vineyard thinking, combined with careful, low-intervention handling, is a big part of why this wine feels both distinctive and grounded.

Related Wines To Try →

If you enjoy this fragrant, savoury red style, these are excellent next bottles to explore:

• Same producer, bright Mediterranean-style red with herbal lift — Paxton Sangiovese
• Same producer, fragrant lifted Grenache with more spice — Paxton Grenache
• Same producer, chillable lighter red for a more relaxed mood — Paxton Queen of the Hive Light Red

FAQ

What does Paxton Tempranillo 2024 taste like?

It tastes of dark cherry, stewed rhubarb and blueberry, with wild herbs, sarsaparilla and savoury spice adding complexity. The palate is dry, medium-bodied and velvety, with soft grainy tannins and a bright finish.

Is this wine dry or sweet?

It is definitely dry. Organic Wine lists the residual sugar at 1.6 g/L, so while the fruit feels generous, the finish is firmly dry.

What is the body and tannin level like?

This sits around medium-bodied, with enough fruit to feel rounded but not heavy. The tannins are soft and grainy rather than firm, which makes the wine very approachable.

Does this wine contain preservatives or sulphites?

I could not verify a no-added-preservative claim for this current release from the live product page, so I have treated it as a standard certified organic and biodynamic red rather than preservative-free. That means it may contain naturally occurring sulphites and likely some added sulphur within organic production limits.

Is Paxton Tempranillo organic, biodynamic and vegan?

Yes. The live Organic Wine page lists it as certified organic, certified biodynamic and vegan suitable, which matches Paxton’s wider estate credentials.

How should I serve this wine?

Serve it around 15–17°C in a medium red wine glass. You can decant it for 15–20 minutes, but it also opens nicely with just a little air in the glass.

Can I cellar it?

Yes, for the short to medium term. Paxton’s own window suggests good drinking now, better through winter 2025, and best from 2026 to 2028.

What foods pair best with it?

It’s excellent with tapas, roasted vegetables, nachos, burritos and dishes where corn, paprika or tomato play a role. Fish dishes with savoury crusts and fennel also work surprisingly well.

Who will love this wine most?

This suits drinkers who like medium-bodied reds with spice, herbal lift and easy food compatibility rather than oak-heavy power. If you enjoy savoury Iberian-style reds or want to explore Australian Tempranillo, this is a very smart place to start.

How long will it last once opened?

Recork it and keep it cool, and it should stay in good form for 3–4 days. The savoury spice often becomes even more expressive on day two.

(SKU: PX_TEM_CV)