Muruve Reserva 2018

Bodegas Frutos Villar was the first winery established in Toro, and makes Muruve Reserva entirely from Tinta de Toro, the local clone of Tempranillo. Toro sits on the high, dry Castilian plateau, where an extreme continental climate of intense sun and cold nights produces thick-skinned grapes with deep colour, ripe tannin and high alcohol. The fruit is fully destemmed and macerated in stainless steel at a controlled 28 to 30 degrees for fifteen to twenty days, with several pump-overs a day to extract colour and tannin from the skins. The wine then ages around eighteen months in American and French oak, with the American barrels supplying coconut and vanilla and the French adding finer spice, while slow oxygen exchange polymerises and softens the tannin. A further spell in bottle integrates the components before release. Expect a deep, opaque red with ripe blackberry and plum, liquorice, sweet baking spice and vanilla. The palate is full and powerful at 15 percent, with ripe, substantial tannin and a long, warm finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees and decant for an hour. It is built for roast and grilled red meats.