Astrales Christina 2020

Astrales Christina is a varietal Tinto Fino red from D.O. Ribera del Duero, made by Bodegas Los Astrales in Anguix, in Burgos. The winery is a family operation now run by the third generation of the Romera de la Cruz family, advised by Eduardo García, son of Mariano García of Mauro and Aalto, with José Hidalgo Togores and Ana Martín Onzain also involved. Ribera del Duero sits high on the Castilian plateau, where the wide diurnal range between hot days and cold nights ripens Tinto Fino fully while keeping acidity, colour and aromatic freshness, the foundation of the region's structured reds. The wine is aged for eighteen months in French oak, classed as a Crianza. French oak lends finer, savoury spice and tighter grain than American, and the long élevage feeds slow oxygen to the wine, building structure and integrating its firm tannins. The colour is deep, near-opaque ruby. The nose shows ripe black cherry and plum over vanilla, oak spice and liquorice. The palate is full bodied and structured, with firm, ripe tannins and a long, savoury finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees, decanting young bottles. It suits roast lamb and aged beef.