Piérola Crianza 2021

Piérola Crianza is a varietal Tempranillo from D.O.Ca. Rioja, made by Fernández de Piérola from vines more than 30 years old cropped below 5,500 kg per hectare. Old vines and low yields concentrate colour and fruit, while the clay and limestone soils of the region give Tempranillo its balance of ripe fruit and savoury structure. The grapes are hand harvested and de-stemmed into stainless steel below 28 degrees, then macerated on the skins for 30 days with two daily pump-overs to extract colour and tannin. After malolactic fermentation, which softens sharp malic acid into rounder lactic acid, the wine spends 18 months in French and American oak with six rackings. The slow oxygen exchange through the barrel staves polymerises the tannins and folds in cedar and vanilla from the wood. It pours a deep ruby and shows ripe blackberry and cherry on the nose, with vanilla, cedar and a leather and tobacco edge from barrel ageing. The palate is balanced and medium bodied, the tannins fine and the finish savoury. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, decanted for half an hour, with roast lamb or grilled red meat.