Cosecheros de Labastida Espirbel Alain Quintana 2020

Espirbel is the wine of Alain Quintana, one of five growers in the Cosecheros de Labastida project in Labastida, Rioja Alavesa, who farm and bottle their own vines. The blend is built on Garnacha and Tempranillo, with the white grape Malvasía co-fermented in the traditional village manner, which adds aromatic lift and softens the structure. Labastida sits beneath the Sierra de Cantabria on poor calcareous clay, and its cool nights preserve acidity even at 14.5%. The vines are worked respectfully, without synthetic inputs. The wine ages in barrel, where slow oxygen transfer through the wood rounds the tannins and adds cedar and baking spice that frame rather than mask the fruit. The colour is a deep ruby. The nose shows ripe plum and cherry over liquorice, pepper and dried herbs, and the palate is medium to full bodied, savoury and layered, with fine tannins and an earthy, lingering finish. Serve at 16 to 17 degrees, decanted briefly, with roast lamb, grilled beef or a mushroom-based dish.