Dominio Fournier Reserva 2020

Dominio Fournier lies in Ribera del Duero, on vineyards that the winery worked on the banks of the Duero even before the appellation was formally established. The high plateau of Castilla y Leon sits at altitude, with hot days and cold nights that drive a wide diurnal range, letting Tempranillo ripen to depth while keeping fresh acidity and firm tannin. The poor, stony soils near the river limit yields and concentrate the fruit. This Reserva spends 18 months in barrel, where extended oxygen exchange polishes the tannins and folds in toffee, vanilla and a graphite minerality, then further time in bottle to integrate. Tempranillo from this region gives dark colour, ripe black fruit and structure built to age. The wine is deep and dense, the nose offering ripe plum and black cherry with toffee, graphite and black liquorice. The palate is full and structured, the tannins firm but ripe, the finish long and savoury. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant for an hour. It is built for roast lamb, grilled beef and aged Manchego.