From “Drinkable” to “Another Sip” – What Two Wines Taught Me About My Palate

There’s a moment when wine starts to click a bit.

Not in a big, dramatic way, but more like you suddenly realise what you actually enjoy… and what you don’t.

That’s exactly what happened to me this week.

I opened two bottles, and they couldn’t have been more different.

The Côtes du Rhône That Lost Me

I started with a Côtes du Rhône Villages.

On paper it sounded like something I should enjoy. A bit of depth, a bit of structure, a proper blend of Grenache and Syrah.

And to be fair, it was drinkable.

But that’s about as far as it went.

I got through half a glass and just didn’t fancy any more. There was nothing wrong with it, it just didn’t grab me. Everything felt a bit blurred together. Soft, warm, easy but also pretty forgettable.

It didn’t really show me anything, and more importantly, it didn’t make me want to go back for another sip.

The Tempranillo That Pulled Me Back In

Next up was the Viña Elena Tempranillo.

Straight away it felt different.

On the nose there wasn’t much going on at first, but in the glass it was all about tart cherry. Fresh, clean, and actually quite lively.

It just had more shape to it.

There’s a slight grip on the finish, a bit of tannin mixed with acidity, but it works. It gives the wine a bit of structure without making it hard work.

And the big thing for me was simple…

I wanted another sip.

The Only Test That Really Matters

I’m starting to realise that this is all that really matters.

Not scores, not what the label says, not what you think you should like.

Just this:

Do you actually want another sip?

The Rhône didn’t pass that test for me. The Tempranillo did and that’s that.

It’s Not About Better Wine

This isn’t about saying one wine is better than the other.

I’ve had wines like Tignanello and you can tell straight away they’re on another level. More depth, more polish, more going on.

But what this Tempranillo showed me is that even a simpler wine can still hit the right notes if it has a bit of freshness and clarity to it.

It doesn’t need to be complex, it just needs to be enjoyable.

What I’m Learning About My Palate

I think this is where things are becoming clearer for me.

I don’t just want something smooth and easy.

I want to be able to taste the fruit properly. I want a bit of freshness. I want the wine to feel like it has some direction to it rather than just sitting there.

That slight tartness in the Tempranillo actually made it more interesting, not less.

It felt alive.

Why This Would Be Even Better With Food

There is a little bit of tannin and acidity on the finish, but I can already tell that would settle right down with food.

Something like pasta or grilled meat and it would probably come together really nicely.

That said, the key thing is I’m enjoying it on its own anyway.

This wasn’t about finding the perfect wine.

It was more about understanding what works for me.

At the moment, I’m clearly leaning towards wines that have a bit of freshness and clarity, where the fruit actually shows up and keeps you interested.

And I think that’s a good place to be.

Final Thought

Wine isn’t about ticking boxes or chasing the best bottle.

It’s about finding what you actually enjoy drinking.

Sometimes that’s something big and impressive.

Other times it’s just a simple Tempranillo that makes you go back for another sip without even thinking about it.

And for me, that’s a much better place to be than settling for something that’s just drinkable.