La Celestina Vendimia Seleccionada 2019

Dominio de Atauta produces La Celestina Vendimia Seleccionada in the high Soria end of D.O. Ribera del Duero, where the vineyards sit at altitude and the growing season is short and cold. The wine is monovarietal Tinto Fino, the local Tempranillo, from selected old vines between 60 and 70 years old that carry low yields and concentrated fruit. Altitude here drives a wide diurnal swing, with warm days ripening the grapes and cold nights preserving acidity and colour, which gives the wine its tension. After fermentation the wine spends 18 months in French oak barrels, where slow oxygen exchange through the staves softens the tannins and adds spice and toast. The colour is deep and dark, the nose offers blackberry and ripe black cherry in harmony with cocoa, oak and a hint of toast. The palate is full and powerful at 15 percent, with ripe tannins, firm acidity and a long savoury finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant for an hour. It is built for roast and grilled red meat.