Dominio del Bendito El Primer Paso 2024

Dominio del Bendito sits at the heart of D.O. Toro in Zamora, founded in 2004 by the Frenchman Antony Terryn, and El Primer Paso is its young red from Tinta de Toro, the local clone of Tempranillo. Toro is a high, dry plateau with a harsh continental climate, intense sun and cold nights, which ripens the thick skinned grapes fully and builds the wine's deep colour, ripe fruit and 15 percent alcohol. The sandy soils here historically protected the vines from phylloxera, allowing very old, low yielding plants that give concentration. The winery works with minimal intervention and respectful farming across its own and managed vineyards. After fermentation the wine spends seven months in French and American oak, enough to soften the firm tannins through oxygen exchange and add vanilla, spice and a light toast while keeping the fruit vibrant. The colour is dense, near opaque purple. The nose is brimming with black and red fruit over pepper, liquorice and smoke. The palate is full and structured, with concentrated dark fruit, firm but ripe tannins and a long, savoury finish. Serve at 17 degrees and decant. Made for robust meat dishes.