Bardos Viñedos de Altura 2023

Bardos Viñedos de Altura comes from Bodegas Bardos, part of Grupo Vintae, and is built around Tempranillo with a little Albillo Mayor and Garnacha Tinta. The fruit is selected from high altitude vineyards in Soria, in the cooler eastern reaches of D.O. Ribera del Duero, between Villálvaro and Alcubilla de Avellaneda. Ribera sits on a plateau of clay and limestone where elevation drives a sharp diurnal swing, with hot days and cold nights that hold acidity and colour while the grapes reach full phenolic ripeness. That balance of ripe fruit and firm structure is the signature of the region. The wine spends twelve months in oak, where gentle oxidation polymerises the tannins into a smoother frame and the barrel adds vanilla, clove and toast. The colour is deep cherry red. The nose leads with ripe plum and black and red fruit lifted by spice, and the palate is full bodied, with velvety but firm tannins, a savoury core and a long, lightly spiced finish. At 15 percent it carries warmth without losing freshness. Serve at 16 to 17 degrees, decanting young vintages. A natural match for roast lamb, grilled beef and aged sheep cheeses.