Even better than the real thing? Review of Edenvale's Non-Alcoholic Tempranillo Cabernet Sauvignon
/Edenvale Tempranillo Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia/Spain, 95 points
Edenvale wines, a non-alcoholic brand from Australia, has been around for a lot longer than many people have even been at drinking age. Starting in the mid-00s, Edenvale launched their first products in a small grocery chain down under and hasn’t looked back since. In late 2022, they released their newest Expedition Series using unique blends and premium grapes from vineyards in Spain to accompany their existing lineup of Aussie-made blends.
The Tempranillo Cabernet Sauvignon is one of this series, and is a fantastic red wine truly unique in the category. Tempranillo is probably one of Spain’s most popular varietals, with a spicy and earthy profile that is loved around the world. In this non-alcoholic red wine blend from Edenvale, it’s paired with Spanish cabernet sauvignon which has only been planted in Spain since the mid-20th century. Both varietals have great potential to retain their character after dealcoholization, which makes this an excellent match.
You can tell this wine was gently guided through creation by an experienced wine-maker, as it has all the hallmarks of a ‘vintage’ wine - tannins that don’t overpower, juicy undertones but not like grape juice and a unique complexity that mimics the real thing so well it’s scary.
Aroma
Opening the bottle, it pours a nice plummy red. On the nose, it’s tempranillo all the way. Dry and dusty just like you want a tempranillo to be. It’s so close to a standard mid-range tempranillo that it’s almost unnerving. If you haven’t had a Spanish wine for awhile, a first whiff will surely bring you stumbling down memory lane.
Mouthfeel & Experience
The mouthfeel is nice and juicy and rich, just like a typical tempranillo would be. High marks for having the right consistency and weight to be a good dupe for a ‘real’ red wine.
Taste
On the palette you have a beautiful tannic dryness that’s often missing from non-alcoholic red wine. Its structure is identical to an old-world wine with dusty leather notes sitting on top of an underbelly of blackberry and vanilla. It’s got enough complexity to be divine in a non-alcoholic red. Absolutely delicious.
The only slight downside to the wine is its lack of length, which is par for the course with non-alcoholic wines. That lack is made up for though on the frontside where you get hit with all those beautiful tempranillo flavours.
What to pair it with
You can easily drink a bottle of this while gobbling some Iberico cheese and other tapas nibbles (not us! LOL). The best pairing this time of year would be for a Thanksgiving or holiday dinner. It’s juicy enough to be a great accompaniment to drier meats like turkey and roast poultry, along with the savoury and slightly drier side dishes.
Why really we love this non-alcoholic wine
It’s the closest a non-alcoholic red wine has come to the real thing that we’ve ever tasted. If you love dry and tannic red wine, and looking for an alcohol-free alternative, this is going to be a wine you pick up again and again.
Don’t hesitate on this one! For the price point, it’s a steal and it’s worth the wait to order it from Dry Variety or Sansorium (both $24).
Salud!
How we score wines (based on IWSC standards):
95 to 100 - An excellent drink with a great personality. An example that stands out among its peers
90 to 94 - An accomplished drink with considerable personality, character and complexity. A classic example of its style or variety.
85 to 89 - A perfectly well-made drink which provides an enjoyable drinking experience.
80 to 84 - An acceptable but simple drink, lacking distinction.
