Dominio de Atauta Valdegatiles 2019

Valdegatiles is a single-vineyard red from Dominio de Atauta, within D.O. Ribera del Duero, made from Tinto Fino. The winery was founded in 1999 in the Atauta Valley in Soria, at 1,000 metres above sea level, and is built into the rock over four levels so the fruit moves by gravity rather than pumps. The vines are old and ungrafted, survivors of phylloxera, set at extreme altitude where very cold nights through ripening preserve bright acidity, deep colour and aromatic detail. After a manual harvest the wine ages 18 months in French oak, where slow oxygen exchange softens the tannins and adds cedar, toast and a fine spice. It is deep, dense red, with blackberry, dark cherry and plum, liquorice, earth and a savoury, mineral edge. The palate is full bodied and structured, with concentrated fruit, firm but ripe tannin and the high-altitude freshness that gives it length and ageing potential. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees and decant ahead of pouring. It pairs with roast lamb, grilled beef, game and mature hard cheese.