Pícaro del Águila 2023

Pícaro del Águila is a Ribera del Duero red from Dominio del Águila, the estate founded in 2010 by Jorge Monzón and Isabel Rodero in La Aguilera, Burgos. Monzón studied oenology in Bordeaux and worked at estates including Domaine de la Romanée Conti and Vega Sicilia before this project. The wine is a traditional field blend led by Tempranillo with Albillo, Bobal and Garnacha grown together across thirty hectares of eco friendly vineyards. Co fermenting these varieties, including the white Albillo, is an old Ribera practice that lifts aromatics and adds freshness and a finer texture to the red. The vines sit on sandy soils, which drain freely, restrain vigour and give wines of delicacy and clear minerality rather than sheer power. Ageing runs to nineteen months in oak, long enough to settle the tannins and add savoury spice while keeping the fruit intact. The colour is bright medium ruby. The nose shows red berries and cherry, plum, black pepper, dried herb and a mineral, stony note. The palate is medium bodied and fresh, with fine tannins, savoury fruit and a long, mineral finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees with roast lamb and grilled meats.