Montebaco de Finca 2023

Montebaco de Finca is a Ribera del Duero red made by Bodegas Montebaco from Tinto Fino, the local name for Tempranillo. The fruit comes from low-yielding vines, which crop little and concentrate flavour and tannin in each cluster. Ribera del Duero sits high on the Castilian plateau, where hot, dry summer days and cold nights give the wide day to night temperature range that keeps acidity, colour and aromatic freshness in the fruit. The grapes ferment in stainless steel, a clean, temperature-controlled environment that protects primary fruit before oak. The wine is then aged unfiltered and unfined for 13 to 18 months in French oak, around 80 per cent, with the balance in American, and the slow oxygen exchange through the barrels softens the tannins while the staves add vanilla, clove and a fine spice. Leaving the wine unfiltered keeps texture and depth in the glass. The colour is deep cherry red. The nose shows ripe black cherry, plum and red berry over vanilla and liquorice, and the palate is structured and savoury, with fine-grained tannins and a long, spiced finish. Serve at 17 degrees and decant ahead. It suits roast beef, lamb and mushroom dishes.