MacRobert & Canals Paraje De La Virgen 2022

MacRobert & Canals made this wine from a one-hectare plot at La Virgen, near Lanciego in Rioja Alavesa, planted in 1920. The old vines are a field mix of Tempranillo, Garnacha Tinta, Graciano, Mazuelo and Viura, picked and made together in the traditional Rioja way. The site sits on calcareous soils, the chalk and clay that give Alavesa reds their freshness and fine structure, holding moisture for the century-old vines through dry summers. Old vines naturally yield small, concentrated crops, which deepens flavour and tightens the tannins. The wine spends twelve months in oak barrels, where the slow ingress of oxygen rounds the tannins and adds a light spice while keeping the fruit and the chalky minerality intact. The colour is bright cherry red. The nose shows red berry, cherry and plum with dried herbs and a stony, savoury note. The palate is medium bodied and fresh, with fine tannins, real depth from the old vines and a long mineral finish. Serve at 16 to 17 degrees. It pairs with roast lamb, grilled beef and aged sheep's cheese.