Figuero Asomo Tempranillo 2024

Figuero Asomo is made by the García Figuero family in La Horra, in D.O. Ribera del Duero, an estate whose roots go back to a gift of 1,000 vines in 1961. This is a single-varietal Tempranillo and the family's freshest, most immediate red. Ribera del Duero sits on the high northern plateau of Castilla y León, where the continental climate brings hot summer days and very cold nights. That wide diurnal swing is what defines the region's reds, slowing the final ripening so the grapes keep their acidity, colour and bright aromatics even as the sugars climb. The wine spends just four months in French oak, a deliberately short ageing that rounds the tannins and adds a light frame of spice and vanilla while leaving the fresh fruit firmly in the lead. Restrained oak handling like this keeps the wine vibrant and easy to drink young rather than heavily structured. It shows a lively nose of raspberry, blueberry and cherry dotted with black pepper and liquorice, then a fresh, juicy palate with soft tannin. Serve at 15 to 16 degrees, slightly cool. It suits grilled meats, lamb chops and tomato-based dishes.