La Mula de la Quietud 2020

Quinta de la Quietud sits in the town of Toro, east of Zamora, and La Mula is its old vine expression of Tinta de Toro, the local strain of Tempranillo. The grapes come from vines between 80 and 100 years old yielding under 100 kilograms per hectare, planted on sandy loam and clay soils at 665 to 700 metres. That low yield and the sandy soils, which kept the old vines free of phylloxera, give small concentrated berries, while the altitude brings cool nights that preserve acidity in a hot continental climate. The wine sees a long maceration to draw colour and tannin from the thick skins, then ages 24 months in French oak, where slow oxygen exchange rounds the firm tannins and adds spice. The farming is organic. It pours an opaque purple black, with aromas of ripe blackberry and plum, liquorice and cracked pepper over a leathery, smoky base. The palate is full and powerful at 15.5 percent, with dense fruit, grippy tannin and a warm savoury finish. Decant an hour ahead and serve at 17 degrees. It is built for roast and grilled red meat.