La Mimbrera de Exopto Graciano 2022

Exopto is a small Rioja producer working with parcels across the region, and La Mimbrera is its single-varietal range. This is pure Graciano, a thick-skinned, late-ripening Rioja grape usually used in small amounts to add colour and acidity to a blend, but bottled here on its own. Graciano needs warm sites to ripen, and Rioja's continental climate with cool nights gives the wine its deep colour, firm acidity and dark, peppery character. The thick skins build colour and tannin during fermentation through extended contact with the must. The wine is aged fifteen months in oak barrels, where slow oxygen exchange through the wood softens the tannin and adds a light spice while keeping the fruit and acidity fresh. It pours a deep violet-tinged ruby. The nose shows dark berries and plum, with black pepper, dried herbs and a savoury, earthy edge. The palate is firm and structured, with high acidity, grippy tannin, a liquorice note and a long savoury finish. Graciano is a wine for the table, built around freshness and grip rather than ripe sweetness. Serve at 16 to 17 degrees, decanting thirty minutes ahead. It suits grilled and roasted meats.