Muruve Crianza 2021

Muruve Crianza is a red from D.O. Toro made by Frutos Villar, the winery founded in 1920 that was the first to make wine in the town of Toro in Zamora. It is built entirely from Tinta de Toro, the local strain of Tempranillo, sourced from 115 hectares of estate vineyards. Toro's continental climate of hot days and cold nights, set on poor sandy and stony soils, gives Tinta de Toro its deep colour, ripe fruit and firm structure. The grapes are fully destemmed and fermented in stainless steel at a controlled 28 to 30 degrees over 12 to 15 days, with three pump-overs daily to extract colour and tannin from the skins. The wine then ages 12 months in French and American oak, where slow oxygen exchange softens the tannins and the two oak types layer in vanilla, toffee and spice. The colour is deep cherry red. The nose shows ripe red fruit, balsamic notes, gentle spice and a hint of vanilla and toffee. The palate is full and rounded, with ripe tannin and a flavourful finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, decanted ahead. It suits roast and grilled red meat.