Pesquera Reserva 2020

Pesquera Reserva is a benchmark Ribera del Duero from Bodegas Pesquera, the winery founded by Alejandro Fernández that helped establish the appellation's reputation. It is a single variety wine made from Tinto Fino, the regional name for Tempranillo, grown on the high plateau of the Duero valley. The altitude here brings cold nights and warm days, a wide diurnal range that holds acidity and builds colour and aromatic depth while the grapes ripen, and the poor limestone and clay soils keep yields low and concentrate the fruit. The wine ages twenty four months in American oak barrels. American oak gives a more open, sweeter spice than French, contributing vanilla and coconut, while the long Reserva ageing softens the firm Tinto Fino tannins through slow oxygen exchange and adds savoury, leathery complexity. The wine is deep ruby with a garnet edge. The nose is layered, with ripe plum and dark berry over vanilla, tobacco, leather and oak spice. The palate is full and structured, firm yet balanced, with ripe tannins, fresh acidity and a long finish, a wine built both for drinking now with food and for keeping. Decant an hour ahead and serve at 16 to 18 degrees with grilled and roasted red meats.