Baron de Ley Reserva 2021

Barón de Ley makes this Reserva in Rioja from Tempranillo, with Graciano and Maturana adding acidity, colour and aromatic complexity. It follows the traditional Reserva path, with extended ageing in barrel and bottle before release. Rioja's continental climate, tempered by the Sierra de Cantabria, ripens the Tempranillo steadily over warm days and cool nights, while the calcareous clay soils restrain vigour and lend structure. The wine spends twenty months in American oak barrels, where the wood's coconut and vanilla character and the slow oxygen exchange soften the tannins and build the classic leather and tobacco development, then rests a further 24 months in bottle, where reductive ageing rounds and integrates the wine into its savoury, mature profile. The colour is deep cherry red with a garnet rim. The nose marries red fruit with sweet spice, leather and a subtle balsamic, savoury undertone. The palate is medium to full bodied and balanced, marrying power and elegance, with fine, resolved tannins, ripe fruit and a long, warm, savoury finish. Serve at 17 degrees, decanted. It is a natural with roast lamb and aged cheeses.