Protos 27 2022

Protos 27 is named for the winery's first vintage, released in 1927, and is made entirely from Tinta del País, the local name for Tempranillo, in the Ribera del Duero of Castilla y León. Protos was the first winery established in the appellation, and the grapes here come from a single vineyard of more than fifty years of age. Ribera del Duero is a high plateau with cold nights and hot days, and that wide diurnal range builds deep colour and firm tannin while keeping acidity intact, so the wines are powerful but balanced. Old vines naturally limit their yield, concentrating the fruit. Ageing is long, sixteen months in French oak followed by twelve in bottle, which lets the tannins polymerise and soften and gives the wine integrated wood spice and a settled, layered aromatic profile before release. The colour is intense cherry red with violet reflections. The nose shows ripe black cherry, plum, vanilla, liquorice and sweet tobacco, with a touch of dark chocolate. The palate is full bodied and structured, with firm but ripe tannin and a long spiced finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees, decanted, with roast beef or lamb.