Tempranillo

Tempranillo Restaurant Review:

The down-valley bedroom community of Basalt was long overshadowed by ritzier, glitzier nearby Aspen. But in the past several years, a number of restaurants arrived to transform it into a commendable dining destination. And Tempranillo led the march. Spearheaded by chef-owner Javier Gonzalez-Bringas, it's a tapas bar-cum-restaurant suited to sexy, young hipsters with polished palates. The whimsical menu, a marriage of Spanish and Italian cuisines, zigzags from classic small plates like pan con tomate and albóndigas to original hybrids such as rigatoni with elk sausage and queso de la Garrotxa or Seville-style grilled salmon with pesto. The bar area bubbles with conversation, and true to its name, you'll find several Tempranillos on the all-Spanish wine list. Join the throng of jovial locals who saddle up to the community table and share in the revelry, or settle into the dim-lit dining room festooned with wooden accents, colorful art and a blazing fireplace.