Yavallo 2021

Yavallo is a red from D.O. Arribes, the remote appellation straddling the Spanish-Portuguese border along the Duero gorge. It is made by Alvar de Dios Hernández, who built his own project around the old vines his grandfather planted in the village of El Pego. The wine is a field blend of Rufete, Merenzao, Mencía, Trincadeira and Cariñena, the traditional mix of the area, farmed organically and biodynamically on the granite soils that characterise Arribes. Granite drains freely and gives wines a fine, mineral structure, while the old vines and low yields concentrate flavour. The continental climate, with hot summers tempered by altitude and cool nights, holds the acidity that keeps the wine fresh. After a classic vinification the wine spends twelve months in French oak barrels, which softens the tannin and adds a measured spice without covering the fruit. The colour is a bright medium red. The nose shows red berries, cherry and plum with black pepper, dried herbs and a clear granite minerality. The palate is fresh and savoury, with fine-grained tannin and a long, earthy finish. Serve at 16 to 17 degrees. It pairs well with roast lamb, grilled beef and mushroom dishes.