Dominio de Valdepusa Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Dominio de Valdepusa Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Marqués de Griñón winery at Malpica de Tajo, near Toledo, which in 2002 became the first single-estate appellation, a Vino de Pago, in Spain. It is a varietal Cabernet Sauvignon from vines planted in the early 1970s at around 450 metres on well-drained clay soils. The continental climate of inland Castilla-La Mancha brings very cold winters and large day-to-night temperature contrasts in the growing season; that wide diurnal swing ripens the Cabernet fully while preserving acidity and the variety's structured tannin. The free-draining clay limits vine vigour and concentrates the fruit. After fermentation the wine ages for fifteen months in French oak from the Allier forest, prized for its tight grain and fine spice, where slow oxygen exchange softens the firm Cabernet tannins and adds vanilla, cocoa and a cedary edge. The colour is deep and saturated. The nose shows blackcurrant and plum with a typical Cabernet lift of mint, pepper and tobacco. The palate is full bodied and structured, with firm but ripe tannins, fresh acidity and a long, savoury finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant an hour ahead. It is built for roast and grilled red meat.