Borsao Cabriola 2020

Borsao sits in the town of Borja in D.O. Campo de Borja, in Aragón, a warm zone so dominated by old Garnacha that it is known as the empire of Garnacha. Cabriola blends Garnacha with Mazuela and Syrah. The vineyards lie on stony clay-limestone soils at the foot of the Moncayo massif, where the cold Cierzo wind moderates an otherwise hot, dry climate and helps the fruit keep acidity and freshness despite full ripeness, here reaching 15.5 percent alcohol. Old Garnacha vines crop little and give concentrated, ripe red and black fruit, Mazuela adds colour and acidity and Syrah brings pepper and structure. The wine is aged twelve months in oak barrels, where slow oxygen exchange rounds the tannins and adds vanilla and spice while letting the ripe fruit lead. The colour is deep, almost opaque ruby. The nose shows ripe black cherry and plum over chocolate, liquorice and a smoky, spicy note. The palate is full bodied and ripe, with rounded tannins, a warming core and a long, dark-fruited finish. Serve at 17 degrees and decant young bottles. It suits grilled beef and roast lamb.