Alonso del Yerro Paydos 2019

Paydos is produced by Viñedos Alonso del Yerro in Morales de Toro, Zamora, within the D.O. Toro. Javier Alonso and María del Yerro built their reputation in Ribera del Duero with the Bordeaux oenologist Stéphane Derenoncourt before buying Pagos del Miguel, an 8.8-hectare plot of old Tinta de Toro vines, in 2007. Tinta de Toro is the local strain of Tempranillo, thick-skinned and built for the region's hot, dry continental climate and poor, sandy soils. The wide diurnal swing of the high Duero plateau, very warm by day and cold at night, ripens the fruit deeply while retaining acidity and freshness. The wine ages 15 months in French oak, where the slow ingress of oxygen polymerises the tannins into a finer texture and the barrel adds vanilla, cocoa and sweet spice. The colour is deep, near-opaque purple. The nose shows ripe dark plum and black fruit, with cocoa, liquorice, tobacco and toasted oak. The palate is full bodied and powerful, with dense, ripe tannins and a long, savoury finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant an hour ahead. It pairs with grilled red meat and game.