Viña Mayor El Secreto 2023

El Secreto is made by Vina Mayor in Quintanilla de Onesimo, in the heart of D.O. Ribera del Duero. Founded in 1986, the winery is directed by Almudena Alberca, the first Spanish woman to earn the Master of Wine title, and works in a modern, polished style. The wine is single varietal Tempranillo. Ribera del Duero has a continental climate with hot, dry summers, cold winters and a wide swing between day and night temperatures; that diurnal range preserves acidity, deepens colour and firms the tannin while the fruit ripens fully, here to 14% alcohol. Ten months in French oak barrels is a measured ageing that keeps the wine fresh and fruit led, softening tannin and adding cedar, vanilla and a fine toast rather than heavy wood. The colour is deep cherry red with a purple rim. The nose shows black plum, red berries and cherry over liquorice, pepper and sweet spice. The palate is full bodied and modern, with ripe, rounded tannin, fresh acidity and a long, fruit driven finish framed by oak. Serve at 17 degrees and decant before serving. It suits roast and grilled red meat and mushroom dishes.