The nose has a fine complexity with tones of ripened fruit such as cherry, cassis and plum all harmonised by the wood and spice character (vanilla and cocoa) with undercurrents of liquorice. The palate displays great balance with glossy, mature tannins and elegant fruit character that echoes the nose. The finish is long and elegant.

Pago de los Capellanes was founded by the Rodero-Villa family in 1996. The 272-acre vineyard in the heart of Ribera del Duero is planted primarily to Tempranillo with a bit of Cabernet Sauvignon. Pago de los Capellanes produces a range of estate-bottled wines ranging from juicy, barely oaked reds to this age-worthy Reserva.

The vineyards where the grapes come form are Pago de los Capellanes and Pedrosa de Duero and vines are planted on clayey and chalky soil. After carefully monitoring the vineyards, we determine the date of the harvest based on the maturity of the grapes. The varieties are collected and fermented separately in 20,000 litre tanks.

A chilled pre-fermentation maceration occurs over 6 days at a temperature of less than 14 ºC. The fermentation then takes place over 30 days. The wine is then removed from the tanks without any pressing of the grape skins. Malolactic fermentation is slow at 20 ºC over 28 days. The wine is aged for 18 months in new French Oak Barrels and the wine is then bottled without any cold treatment, fining or filtration.

Try this wine with fillet steak, Beef Stroganoff or a Venison and Juniper stew.