Portia Prima 2022

Portia Prima is a Ribera del Duero red made by Bodegas Portia from Tempranillo alone. The grapes come only from the Pago del Pino estate, at around 750 metres above sea level. Altitude defines this terroir, the high plateau brings hot summer days and cold nights, and the wide day to night temperature range holds acidity, colour and aromatic freshness in the fruit while the sun ripens it fully. The harvest and winemaking follow conventional methods honed over years in the region, and the grapes pass over a selection table so that only sound fruit goes into the vat. After fermentation the wine ages 15 months in French oak, where slow oxygen exchange through the staves rounds the firm tannins of Ribera Tempranillo and adds vanilla, clove and a fine toasted spice. The colour is deep cherry with a violet rim. The nose shows ripe blackberry and dark cherry with violet, a whisper of liquorice and vanilla over fine spice, and the palate is full and structured, with ripe black fruit, polished tannin and a long, spiced finish. Serve at 17 degrees and decant an hour ahead. It suits roast lamb, grilled beef and aged hard cheese.