Museum Vinea Crianza 2022

Museum Vinea Crianza comes from D.O. Cigales in Valladolid, made by Finca Museum, the Castilian project of Grupo Barón de Ley. Tinta del Pais is the local name for Tempranillo, and here it grows on poor soils that limit yields and push the vines to concentrate fruit and minerality, with some century-old plantings among the estate's vineyards. The continental climate of the northern Duero gives hot days and cold nights, and that wide diurnal swing locks in acidity and colour while the grapes ripen fully, which shows in the 14.5% alcohol. The wine ages 14 months in French and American oak, where slow oxygen ingress through the staves rounds the tannins and adds vanilla, clove and toast. It is a deep, brilliant ruby with intense aromas of ripe cherry and plum lifted by vanilla and a peppery, spiced edge. The palate is full and structured, the tannins ripe and the oak well integrated, closing long and savoury. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, decanted, alongside grilled red meat, roast lamb or a mushroom rice.