PradoRey Finca La Mina 2020

Bodegas PradoRey farms part of the historic Real Sitio Ventosilla estate at Gumiel de Mercado in Burgos, within D.O. Ribera del Duero. The region sits high on the Castilian plateau, where cold nights and hot, dry days produce a wide diurnal range that keeps acidity firm and skins thick. Those thick skins give Tempranillo its colour, tannin and depth here, and the limestone and gravel soils drain freely, forcing the vines to root deep. Finca La Mina is built as a Reserva and spends fourteen months in French oak barrels, where measured oxygen ingress polishes the tannin and adds vanilla, cedar and a cocoa edge to the dark fruit. Malolactic fermentation rounds the natural acidity into a softer, riper frame. The colour is deep ruby with a garnet rim. The nose offers ripe plum and black cherry, vanilla, sweet tobacco and cocoa. The palate is full bodied and structured, with grippy but ripe tannin and a warming finish that reflects the fifteen per cent alcohol. Decant an hour ahead and serve at 17 degrees. It is built for roast lamb, grilled beef and aged Manchego.