Protos Reserva 2020

Protos Reserva comes from Bodegas Protos, founded in 1927 in Peñafiel and the first winery in the Ribera del Duero, its name taken from the Greek for first. It is made from Tinta del Pais, the local name for Tempranillo, grown across the high continental plateau around Peñafiel in Valladolid. The climate here is Mediterranean with a strong continental influence, with little rainfall, dry summers and long harsh winters, and a wide swing between day and night temperatures that ripens the thick-skinned grapes while preserving acidity. After fermentation the wine ages eighteen months in American oak barrels, which lend a rounder vanilla, coconut and sweet toasted-spice character, followed by a further twenty-four months in bottle to settle and integrate before release. It pours a deep dark ruby. The nose shows ripe blackberry and plum melded with toasted oak, a creamy dairy note and a touch of sweet spice. The palate is full and structured, with ripe firm tannins, fresh acidity and a long warming finish lifted by the fifteen per cent alcohol. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant an hour ahead. It suits roast and grilled red meats.