Matadiablos 2023

Matadiablos comes from Casa Lebai in Gumiel de Mercado, in the D.O. Ribera del Duero, the project of brothers Rodrigo and Asier Calvo, who farm old family vineyards with an eye to memory and tradition. It is a single-varietal Tempranillo from the high Duero plateau, where the continental climate brings hot days and cold nights. That wide diurnal range slows ripening and preserves the bright acidity and aromatic detail that mark the wine, holding the alcohol to a moderate 13.5 percent. Rather than small barrels, the wine ages for twelve months in foudre, the large oak vessels giving a slower, gentler oxygen exchange and a lower ratio of wood to wine, so the tannins soften and round while the fruit stays in the foreground with only a whisper of oak. It is cherry red with a medium-low depth, showing fresh red fruit and delicate floral notes on the nose over a fine, savoury base. The palate is fresh, elegant and medium bodied, with fine tannins and a clean finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees with roast lamb, herb-roasted chicken or mushroom dishes.