Torresilo 2021

Cillar de Silos farms Tempranillo, known locally as Tinto Fino, on the high plateau of Ribera del Duero in Castilla y León. The vineyards sit around 900 metres, where the wide gap between hot days and cold nights slows ripening, preserving acidity and building deep colour and concentrated fruit in the thick-skinned grapes. The soils are limestone and clay with sand, free-draining ground that keeps yields low and intensity high. At this altitude Tempranillo gives a powerful, structured red rather than the softer style of warmer regions. The wine is aged fourteen months in French oak barrels, where oxygen passing slowly through the wood firms and rounds the abundant tannins, while malolactic conversion softens the acidity and the barrel adds spice, vanilla and a fine toast. The colour is deep, near opaque ruby. The nose shows black plum, cherry, liquorice and dark chocolate over earth and oak. The palate is full bodied at fourteen and a half percent, with firm, ripe tannins, bright acidity and a long finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant ahead of roast lamb or grilled beef.