César Príncipe 2022

César Príncipe is a varietal Tempranillo from the D.O. Cigales in Castilla y León, made from three plots of old, low-density vines around Fuensaldaña in Valladolid. Low planting density and old vines mean each plant carries a small, concentrated crop, while Cigales' continental climate of hot days and cold nights builds colour and structure while preserving acidity. The hand-picked clusters are fully destemmed at the cellar and given a cold maceration of about two days, which draws colour and aroma from the skins before fermentation begins in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. The wine then ages fourteen months in a mix of French and American oak, the French wood lending finer-grained spice and the American adding vanilla and a sweeter tone, with the barrels softening the firm tannins through slow oxygen exchange. The 2022 is deep, opaque red. The nose offers ripe plum and dark berries with cocoa, vanilla and liquorice, and the palate is full bodied and structured, with firm tannins and a long, savoury, lightly leathery finish. At 14.5 percent it is powerful but balanced. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees, decanted for an hour. It suits grilled beef and game.