Valdecastrillo 2020

Valdecastrillo is a red wine from Alfredo Maestro, a grower based in Peñafiel, in the Duero valley of Castilla y León, who works outside prevailing trends. He began with conventional methods, adding sulphur and fining, but moved to natural winemaking to express terroir as faithfully as possible. This is a varietal Tempranillo bottled under the broader Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León designation rather than the Ribera del Duero appellation. The continental climate here brings hot days and cold nights through the growing season, and that wide diurnal range fixes colour and tannin while keeping acidity fresh. Natural winemaking means native-yeast fermentation with minimal handling, little or no added sulphur and no fining or filtration, which keeps the wine's texture and savoury character intact. Twelve months in French oak rounds the tannin and adds gentle spice without dominating the fruit. The colour is deep ruby. The nose shows red and black cherry, plum and an earthy, peppery edge with a faint smoky note. The palate is medium to full bodied, fresh and savoury, with grainy tannin and a long finish. Serve at 16 to 17 degrees. It suits roast lamb and grilled meats.