Protos Carroa 2021

Protos is one of the founding wineries of Ribera del Duero, established in 1927 in the town of Peñafiel. Carroa takes its name from the old Camino a Roa that once linked the villages of the appellation. The Tempranillo grows on the high Castilian plateau, where vineyards sit above 700 metres on limestone and clay soils. The altitude brings a wide diurnal range, with hot days and cold nights that slow ripening, hold natural acidity and build colour and tannin in the skins, all of which gives Ribera reds their density. The wine is aged for sixteen months in oak barrels followed by eight months in large foudres and concrete eggs. The neutral foudre and inert concrete soften the oak signature and let the fruit settle, while slow micro-oxygenation through the barrel rounds the tannins. The result is deep ruby in colour, with a nose of ripe black and red fruit, black pepper, liquorice and vanilla over an earthy base. The palate is full bodied and firm, with structured tannins and a long savoury finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, ideally decanted an hour ahead. It suits roast lamb, grilled beef and mature Manchego.