Emilio Moro Malleolus de Valderramiro 2021

Drink now or cellar for up to 18 years. Decant 1 hour before serving. One of the great names in contemporary Ribera del Duero, the Emilio Moro winery has been creating opulent red wines from the region’s classic Tempranillo grape for half a century. The property is now run by the third generation of the Moro family represented by José and Javier Moro, as well as their father, Emilio. The family owns 5 hectares of prime Tempranillo vineyards planted by their grandfather in the tiny town of Pesquera de Duero. The Moro family’s Malleolus de Valderramiro wine is named after the Latin word “small vineyard” and refers to the family’s practice of crafting wines from the exceptional qualities of their land. This is a single vineyard wine made from the Pago de Valderramiro vineyard which was planted almost a century ago in 1924. The intense continental climate here in the Ribera del Duero combined with these ancient vines ensures that the grapes are extremely concentrated yet finely balanced with freshness and smooth tannins. The young wine is transferred to American oak barrels after fermentation to undergo malolactic fermentation which adds extra complexity and helps soften the tannins. It is then moved to French oak barrels where it spends 18 months to fully integrate the different components and add delicious toasty and spicy hints to the dark fruit flavours.

Price: £98.40 from 8wines UK