Cruz de Alba Crianza 2022

Cruz de Alba Crianza is a single variety Tempranillo from D.O. Ribera del Duero, made by the Cruz de Alba winery near Quintanilla de Onesimo. The fruit comes from the Hoyales plots near Penafiel, planted on terraces with a limestone surface. Ribera del Duero sits high on the northern Meseta, where hot days and cold nights create a marked diurnal range; that swing preserves acidity and colour while the long, sunny ripening drives the deep fruit and the 14.5 percent alcohol. The limestone subsoil holds water and adds firmness and length. Ageing runs fifteen months in French and American oak. The extended barrel time allows a slow oxygen exchange that polishes the tannin into a finer grain, while the wood contributes vanilla, cocoa and sweet spice. The colour is dense, near opaque purple. The nose shows ripe plum and black cherry over cocoa, vanilla, tobacco and a touch of liquorice. The palate is full bodied and firm, with ripe, gripping tannin and a long, savoury finish. Serve at 17 degrees in a large bowled glass, and decant young bottles for an hour. It is built for roast lamb and grilled red meat.