Yllera Vendimia Seleccionada 2020

Yllera is a long-established family producer in Castilla y León, here working outside the main appellations under the broad Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León category. This selected-harvest red blends Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Tempranillo, a Bordeaux core widened with Syrah and the local Tempranillo. The vineyards sit on the high continental plateau, where hot days and cold nights give a wide diurnal range that ripens the Cabernet fully while holding acidity, landing the wine at 14.5 percent. The fruit is hand-selected at harvest, and the wine ages 22 months in oak, where slow oxygen exchange rounds the tannins and layers in spice, chocolate and vanilla. The colour is deep ruby. The nose shows blackcurrant, plum and red currant with black pepper, sweet oak spice, tobacco and a chocolate edge. The palate is full and structured, with firm ripe tannins, a dark fruit core and a long savoury finish. This is a polished, oak-framed red for the table. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees and decant for 45 minutes. It is built for grilled and roast red meat.