Alceño 12 Cepas Viejas 2022

Alceno 12 Cepas Viejas is a red from D.O. Jumilla in Murcia, made by Bodegas Alceno, founded in 1870 as the region's first commercial winery and now run by the fourth generation. The wine blends Monastrell and Syrah from the estate's oldest Monastrell vines. The climate is continental Mediterranean with a semi arid character, with scarce rainfall and temperatures between 13 and 18 degrees. Those dry, hot conditions ripen the thick skinned Monastrell fully, giving deep colour and the ripe, warming 14.5 percent style, while the old vines crop little and concentrate the fruit. Syrah adds pepper, dark berry and a smoky lift. Ageing runs twelve months in French and American oak, where slow oxygen exchange rounds the firm tannin and the wood contributes vanilla, fine spice and a toasted frame. The colour is dense purple. The nose shows ripe plum and red berries over black pepper, liquorice, smoke and wild herbs. The palate is full bodied and warming, with ripe tannin and a long, savoury, spiced finish. Serve at 16 to 17 degrees in a large glass. It suits grilled red meat and slow roast pork.