Tomás Postigo 3er Año 2023

Tomás Postigo, one of the long-standing oenologists of D.O. Ribera del Duero in Castilla y León, builds this red around his stated formula for the region: Tinto Fino backed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec, all raised in French oak. The high plateau here sits above 800 metres, where chalky limestone and gravel soils retain little water and force the vines to ripen slowly. Wide diurnal swings, with hot days and cold nights, hold onto acidity and colour while the fruit reaches the full ripeness behind the 15% alcohol. The blend completes malolactic fermentation to soften its natural acidity, then spends twelve months in French oak barrels. That barrel time draws gentle oxygen through the staves, fixing colour, knitting tannin and layering vanilla and clove over the fruit. The wine is deep and dense in the glass. The nose leads with ripe plum and black cherry, then sweet spice, cocoa and tobacco from the wood. The palate is full and structured, with ripe but firm tannin and a long, savoury finish. Serve at 16 to 18C and decant an hour ahead. It suits roast beef, lamb and aged hard cheese.