La Zarcita 2023

La Zarcita is a red from Palacio Quemado in the D.O. Ribera del Guadiana, a winery in Alange in Extremadura set up in 1999 as a project of the Montilla based Bodegas Alvear. It blends Touriga Nacional and Trincadeira, both Portuguese in origin, with the dark, deeply coloured Garnacha Tintorera and Syrah, grown on mainly calcareous soils at an altitude of 520 metres. The warm, dry climate of inland Extremadura ripens the fruit fully, while the altitude and the limestone soils, which reflect heat and drain freely, bring freshness and lift that keep the wine from turning heavy. Each variety is harvested and fermented separately to respect its own ripening window before the final blend, drawing dark fruit and floral aromatics from the Portuguese grapes, colour and grip from the Tintorera and pepper from the Syrah. After ageing in oak, where slow oxygen exchange softens the tannins and adds spice, the wine shows a deep red colour, a nose of ripe plum and dark berries over black pepper, liquorice and dried herbs, and a full, fruit driven palate with ripe tannins and a warm finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees with grilled meats.