Finca Villacreces Nebro 2021

Nebro comes from Finca Villacreces, a winery on the Milla de Oro stretch at the centre of D.O. Ribera del Duero. The wine is drawn from one vineyard of Tempranillo vines planted in 1917, in the Olmedillo zone of Burgos. The sandy and rocky soils there drain freely and naturally restrict vigour, so the old vines yield very little fruit of high concentration. Ribera del Duero sits high on the Castilian plateau, where hot days and cold nights extend the ripening season and lock in acidity and colour, giving the wine its structure and freshness. Nebro is bottled only in vintages of exceptional quality, which keeps it scarce. Ageing runs to sixteen months in oak barrels followed by six months in larger foudres, where slow oxygen exchange rounds the tannins and adds spice while the bigger format keeps the fruit clear. The wine is deep cherry red with garnet reflections. The nose is powerful, with ripe dark fruit, mineral notes, a hint of toffee and sweet spice. The palate is full and firm, structured for the cellar yet generous now. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, decanting an hour ahead. Match it with roast lamb or grilled beef.