Valderiz Juegabolos 2021

Valderiz Juegabolos is a single-vineyard Tempranillo, here under its local name Tinta Fina, from an estate planted by Tomas Esteban in 1988 in Ribera del Duero. The Finca Juegabolos sits on distinctive terroir: the topsoil is gravel, which drains the region's scarce rainfall and forces the vines to root deep into the underlying strata, drawing minerals that give the wine structure and a stony edge. The high Castilian plateau brings hot days and cold nights, a swing that builds ripe tannin and depth while holding the acidity that keeps these powerful reds fresh. The wine is made without inoculated microorganisms, relying on native yeasts for fermentation, which gives a fuller expression of the site. It is then aged for 36 months in French oak, a long maturation that softens the firm tannin through slow oxygen exchange while knitting in spice and toast. The colour is a deep, dense ruby. The nose shows black cherry, plum, cocoa and liquorice over oak and earth. The palate is full bodied and structured, with firm, fine-grained tannin, fresh acidity and a long, mineral finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees and decant an hour ahead. Good with red meat and game.