Clunia Tempranillo 2018

Clunia Tempranillo is a red from the Clunia winery, named after the Roman settlement of Clunia Sulpicia near Peñalba de Castro in Burgos, Castilla y León. The project has had its own facilities since 2014 in Coruña del Conde, making relatively small, honest wines. This Tempranillo comes from ten hectares of vineyard set at high altitude on the cool northern reaches of the Castilian plateau. The elevation brings cold nights and a wide diurnal range, which slows ripening, keeps the acidity fresh and builds colour and aromatic depth in the fruit, while the poor, stony soils restrict yields and add a mineral edge. The wine is aged in oak, which softens the tannins through slow oxygen exchange and adds vanilla and spice to frame the fruit. It is deep ruby, with dark plum and cherry, vanilla and toasted oak, and an earthy, peppery savouriness. The palate is full bodied, with firm tannin and a long, structured finish carried by the altitude-driven freshness. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, decanted, with roasted and grilled red meats. It is a substantial wine that suits rich, savoury dishes.