Celia Vizcarra 2022

Celia is made by Vizcarra, one of the more closely watched estates in D.O. Ribera del Duero, on the high plateau of Castilla y León. The blend is led by Tinto Fino, the local clone of Tempranillo, with a small share of Garnacha. Ribera del Duero sits at around 800 metres, where hot days and cold nights give a wide diurnal range that ripens the fruit while holding acidity and colour. Tinto Fino on these limestone-influenced soils gives deep, structured wines with firm tannin, and the Garnacha adds red fruit and lift. Ageing for sixteen months in a mix of French and American oak rounds the tannins and adds spice and sweetness, the American oak leaning to vanilla and coconut, the French to finer-grained structure. The colour is deep and dark-cored. The nose shows ripe plum and black cherry over cocoa, vanilla and liquorice. The palate is full and firm, with ripe tannin, fresh acidity and a long oak-spiced finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees and decant an hour ahead. It suits roast lamb and grilled beef.