Tinto Pesquera Gran Reserva Millenium 2018

Tinto Pesquera is one of the founding names of Ribera del Duero, working over 200 hectares of low trellised vineyards around Pesquera de Duero. The Gran Reserva Millenium comes from nutrient poor but well drained soils of sand and gravel sitting on a subsoil of limestone and clay, which restrict vigour and concentrate the fruit. Ribera del Duero sits high on the northern meseta, where wide swings between hot days and cold nights slow ripening and preserve acidity, giving Tempranillo here its depth and structure. The wine is aged 26 months in French oak barrels, a long maturation that softens the tannins through slow oxygen exchange and layers in cedar, vanilla and sweet spice over the fruit. It is deep ruby with a garnet edge. The nose leads with dark cherry and plum, set against tobacco, leather and toasted oak. The palate is full bodied and firmly structured, the tannins fine grained after time in barrel, with a long savoury finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant an hour ahead. It suits roast lamb, aged beef and mature Manchego.