Señorío De San Vicente Tempranillo 2022

Senorio de San Vicente belongs to the Eguren family, also behind Sierra Cantabria in Rioja and Teso la Monja in Toro. This is a single-variety red from Tempranillo Peludo, a historic, downy-leaved strain of Tempranillo that all but disappeared because of its low yields. The fruit comes from the family's own vines in Rioja, where the continental climate and a hand harvest of selected bunches give small, concentrated berries. At 14.5% alcohol this is a full, ripe expression of Tempranillo, fermented on the skins to draw out colour and tannin, then aged for twenty months in a mix of French and American oak barrels. The French oak lends fine spice and structure while the American oak adds sweeter vanilla and coconut tones, and the slow oxygen exchange through the staves rounds the firm tannins. It is deep and dark in the glass, with concentrated plum and black cherry, liquorice, tobacco and toasted oak. The palate is powerful and structured, with ripe tannins and a long, spiced finish. Serve at 17 degrees, decanted. It suits roast and grilled red meat.