Emilio Moro Malleolus 2023

Malleolus is the flagship Tempranillo of Emilio Moro, a fourth generation family producer in D.O. Ribera del Duero. The name borrows a Latin term for the vine once specific to Pesquera del Duero, the village at the centre of the estate. Ribera del Duero sits on a high plateau in northern Castilla y León, where vines grow on limestone and clay over gravel at altitude. The wide diurnal swing between hot days and cold nights slows ripening and preserves acidity, building colour and tannin while keeping the fruit fresh. Farming here is sustainable. After fermentation the wine ages for eighteen months in French Allier oak, where the tighter grain gives a slow, measured oxygen exchange that firms the tannins and adds fine spice and toast rather than overt sweetness. The wine is deep and dense in the glass, with a nose of ripe plum and dark berry fruit lifted by spice, liquorice and a mineral, earthy edge. The palate is full bodied and structured, the tannins firm but ripe, the finish long and savoury. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees, decanted an hour ahead, with roast beef, grilled lamb or a mature hard cheese.