López Cristóbal Parcela Uno 2022

Lopez Cristobal Parcela Uno is a red from D.O. Ribera del Duero, made by the Lopez Cristobal winery from Tinta del Pais, the local name for Tempranillo, grown at the Finca Valera estate. The vineyard is around thirty-five years old and sits on clay-limestone soil at about 840 metres above sea level. That altitude is central to the style: hot days and cold nights on the high Castilian plateau give a very wide diurnal range that ripens the thick-skinned Tinta del Pais while preserving acidity, and the chalky clay holds water through the dry summer. The grapes are hand picked into small boxes and sorted on a table so only sound berries are used. The wine is aged sixteen months in French and American oak barrels, where slow oxygen exchange resolves the firm tannins and adds spice, cocoa and a measured vanilla from the two oak types. The colour is deep, almost opaque ruby. The nose shows ripe black plum and cherry over black pepper, liquorice, cocoa and sweet oak. The palate is full bodied and structured, with firm ripe tannins, fresh acidity and a long, spiced finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees, decanting ahead. It suits roast and grilled red meats.