Refugallo Tinto 2022

Refugallo comes from Dominio do Bibei, a winery set on the slate slopes above the river Bibei in the Galician province of Ourense. Ribeira Sacra is defined by its vertiginous terraces, where Mencia and Garnacha root into decomposed slate and schist. Those poor, free draining soils restrict vigour and lend the wine its mineral character, while the Atlantic influence and a marked day to night temperature swing preserve acidity and fix bright aromatics in the fruit. Farming follows respectful, sustainable methods. The wine spends twenty months in used French oak barrels, a long ageing in seasoned wood that softens tannin and adds a savoury frame without overt vanilla or toast, the older barrels favouring slow oxygen exchange over fresh oak flavour. The colour is a brilliant cherry red with a violet rim. The nose shows wild raspberry and cherry, violet and dried herbs over a stony base. The palate is medium bodied and fresh, with fine grained tannin, red fruit and a long, mineral finish. Serve at 16 to 17 degrees, ideally decanted for half an hour. It suits roast lamb, beef and earthy mushroom dishes.