Hermanos Sastre Pago de Santa Cruz 2022

Vina Sastre, in La Horra in the Burgos part of Ribera del Duero, has farmed between organic and biodynamic methods since the winery was established in 1992. Pago de Santa Cruz is made entirely from Tempranillo grown on old vines up to 64 years of age, planted on a slope above the river Duero at around 810 metres. That altitude is significant: the high Castilian plateau brings cold nights and hot days, a wide swing that builds colour and ripe tannin while keeping acidity fresh, and the old vines give low yields of concentrated fruit. No herbicides, pesticides or mineral fertilisers are used in the vineyard. The wine is aged for 30 months in American oak, a long maturation that softens the firm tannin through slow oxygen exchange while adding the vanilla, coconut and sweet spice that American oak is known for. The colour is a deep cherry red with violet reflections. The nose shows black cherry, plum, cocoa and vanilla over leather and pepper. The palate is full bodied and powerful at 15 percent, the firm tannin balanced by acidity into a long, spiced finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees and decant. Good with red meat and game.