Fuentespina Reserva 2022

Fuentespina belongs to the Avelino Vegas group and works in D.O. Ribera del Duero, the high plateau of Castilla y León where Tempranillo is known locally as Tinto Fino. This Reserva is a single variety wine from vines more than 70 years old, with the best fruit selected for structure and concentration. The region sits at high altitude on the northern Spanish meseta, where hot days and cold nights create a wide diurnal range. That swing slows ripening, deepens colour and tannin and locks in the acidity that keeps these powerful reds fresh. Soils of limestone, clay and sand drain well and stress the old vines, lowering yields and concentrating flavour. After destemming and fermentation the wine spends 16 months in French and American oak barrels, where slow oxygen exchange softens the tannins and layers in vanilla, sweet spice and cocoa. It is deep ruby, with a nose of ripe plum, black cherry, vanilla and liquorice over a smoky, toasty edge. The palate is full bodied and firm, with dark fruit, fine grained tannin and a long, spiced finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees, decanted. It is built for roast lamb and grilled red meat.