Protos Clarete 2025

Protos Clarete comes from D.O. Cigales in Castilla y Leon, the historic home of clarete, a deeper-hued rosado made by co-fermenting black and white grapes. Here Tempranillo leads, blended with white Albillo and Garnacha Tinta, the proportions shifting each vintage with the harvest. Cigales sits on the high northern plateau of the Duero basin, where vineyards work poor limestone and gravel soils at altitude. The wide diurnal range, hot days and cold nights, lets the grapes ripen fully while retaining the bright acidity that defines the style. Co-fermenting red and white grapes on a portion of skins gives the wine its vivid pink colour and a fuller frame than a pale direct-press rosé. The wine then rests two months on its lees, where breakdown of the spent yeast adds texture and a savoury, bready depth that fleshes out the mid-palate. The colour is a bright raspberry pink. The nose opens with strawberry, raspberry and juicy cherry, with red currant and a floral lift. The palate is fresh and generous, fruit-forward but dry, with a peppery savoury edge on the finish. Serve at 8 to 10C. It works with grilled pork, roast chicken and tomato-based rice dishes.