Martín Berdugo Crianza 2022

Martín Berdugo Crianza is a Tempranillo from D.O. Ribera del Duero, made at the winery in Aranda de Duero in the province of Burgos. The vineyards sit on a terrace above the River Duero, on the high Castilian plateau where the continental climate brings hot days and cold nights. That wide diurnal range is central to the region: warm days ripen the fruit fully while cold nights preserve acidity and colour, giving deeply coloured, structured wines. Tempranillo here, known locally as Tinto Fino, produces firm tannins and dark fruit. The Crianza ageing, a category defined by time in oak and bottle, gives the wine its rounded, savoury profile, with barrel maturation softening the tannins through slow oxygen exchange and adding vanilla and sweet spice. The colour is deep cherry with garnet at the rim. The nose shows ripe black plum and cherry, vanilla, liquorice and a peppery, earthy note. The palate is full and firm at 14.5% alcohol, with grippy but ripe tannin, dark fruit and a long, spiced finish. Serve at 17 degrees, ideally decanted. It calls for roast and grilled meats.