Cillar de Silos 2022

Cillar de Silos is a family winery in the D.O. Ribera del Duero, working its own vineyards on the high plateau of Castilla y León. This wine is single-varietal Tempranillo, the grape that drives the region. Ribera's altitude and strongly continental climate, with hot days and sharply cold nights, give a wide diurnal range that slows ripening and locks in the acidity and deep colour that mark these reds. The wine ages thirteen months in French oak barrels, where malolactic fermentation converts sharper malic acid into softer lactic acid and the slow oxygen exchange through the staves smooths the tannins while folding in vanilla, spice and a smoky, toasted note. The house style is precise rather than heavy: fresh and concentrated, with fine tannins and bright acidity holding the fruit. The result is a deep red with ripe black cherry and plum, dark chocolate, smoke and spice. The palate is full but lively, the tannins fine-grained, the finish long and elegant. Serve at 17 degrees after a short decant. It suits roast and grilled red meats, game and earthy dishes.