Alto Siós 2022

Alto Sios is a red blend of Syrah, Tempranillo and Garnacha made by Costers del Sio in the D.O. Costers del Segre in inland Catalonia. It is drawn from the winery's six best plots, where the continental climate brings hot days and cool nights. That wide diurnal range slows ripening late in the season, so the grapes reach full sugar and colour while keeping acidity and aromatic freshness. After a sorting table selection, the fruit is cold macerated before fermentation to draw out colour and aroma from the skins without alcohol. Fermentation then runs at controlled temperatures with cap plunging and rack and return to encourage further extraction of colour and phenolic compounds. The wine spends twelve months in French oak, which softens the tannin and adds a creamy, spiced frame through slow oxygen exchange. The colour is deep cherry. The nose shows ripe plum and blackberry with dried herbs and a touch of creamy oak. The palate is full and ripe at 15 percent, with firm but rounded tannin and a warm, savoury finish. Serve at 17 degrees, ideally decanted. It suits red meat and roasts.