Gota de Arena 2023

Gota de Arena is a Castilla y León red from Bodegas Tridente, made from old-vine Tempranillo grown in the north of Zamora. The defining feature here is the sandy soil, which is too loose for the phylloxera louse to survive, so the vines grow ungrafted on their own roots, often at considerable age. Those old, low-yielding vines, combined with a harsh continental climate of biting winters and heavy summer heat, give small berries and deep, concentrated fruit. The sandy soil also drains freely, keeping the wine balanced despite the ripeness. It spends three months in oak barrels, enough to soften the tannins and add a frame of spice and cocoa without covering the fruit. The wine pours a deep purple-red. The nose is vibrant and generous, with ripe red and black fruit, peppery spice, liquorice and an earthy depth. The palate is full bodied and concentrated, with ripe tannins, fresh acidity and a long, savoury finish that reflects the old vines as much as the cellar. At 14.5 percent it carries real weight. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees, decant an hour ahead, and pour with roast or grilled red meat.