Finca Antigua Syrah 2022

Finca Antigua Syrah is a single varietal red from D.O. La Mancha, made by the Finca Antigua winery, part of the Martínez Bujanda group. The fruit comes from a large estate at Los Hinojosos in Cuenca, where the vines grow at around 900 metres on loam soils rich in calcium carbonate. The altitude is the key to this wine. Days are hot and ripen the Syrah fully, while cold nights slow sugar accumulation and lock in colour, acidity and the peppery aromatics typical of the grape. The grapes are picked in the third week of September, fermented in stainless steel under temperature control to keep the fruit clean and primary, then aged eight months in French oak barrels, where contact with the wood rounds the tannins and adds spice. The colour is deep violet red. The nose shows ripe blackberry, plum and black pepper with liquorice and a touch of clove from the oak. The palate is full and warm at 14 percent, with supple tannins and a smoky, spiced finish. Serve at 17 degrees with grilled red meat, lamb or roasted root vegetables.