Canopy Malpaso Tinto Syrah 2022

Bodegas Canopy is a young winery in D.O. Méntrida, farming organically and with minimal intervention on the silica and granite soils below the Sierra de Gredos, west of Madrid. This is a single-variety Syrah. The climate here is extreme and continental, with long cold winters and hot, dry summers, tempered by the Gredos range which shelters the vines from northern and western winds. The wide seasonal and daily temperature swing ripens the fruit fully while the granite soils keep the wine fresh and give it a mineral lift, which is why it reads as ripe and intense yet savoury rather than heavy. Ageing is eight months in French oak barrels, a moderate stay that rounds the tannins and adds spice and a light vanilla frame without covering the fruit. The colour is a dense purple. The nose is intense, with blackberry and dark plum over cracked pepper, dried herbs, liquorice and a balsamic, smoky note. The palate is full and warming, with ripe tannins, fresh acidity and a peppery, savoury finish. Serve at 17 degrees, decanting an hour ahead. It suits grilled red meat and slow-cooked lamb.