Contino San Rafael 2021

Contino San Rafael is made by the Contino estate in Rioja Alavesa, from Garnacha picked by hand at full ripeness and twice sorted, on the vine and again at the winery. The grapes ferment in French oak vats and macerate for about seven days with several manual punch-downs to draw colour and flavour gently from the skins. Malolactic fermentation takes place in second-use barrels, which softens the acidity without adding fresh oak. The wine then rests around ten months in barrel and a further four months in old stone lagares, a slow, near-neutral ageing that adds texture and air while keeping the fruit clear. Garnacha grown on these calcareous clay soils gives a perfumed, red-fruited style with moderate colour and a modest 13% alcohol. The wine is bright cherry red. The nose is raspberry and ripe cherry with thyme and rosemary, a dusting of cinnamon and vanilla and an earthy, stony note. The palate is medium bodied and fresh, with fine tannin, lively acidity and a savoury, herbal finish. Serve at 15 to 16 degrees. It suits roast game birds, lamb and mushroom dishes.