Vinho Tinto Pruno Crianza - D.O. Ribera del Duero

The 12 months in barrel really come through—there’s a deep, smoky edge that lingers after each sip. Poured a glass alongside a simple stew and it held its own, smooth but with enough grip from the tempranillo to keep things interesting.

Opened it tonight with lamb chops and the 90/10 tempranillo-cabernet blend gave it a surprising dark fruit depth that softened nicely after half an hour. The 12 months in oak come through as subtle vanilla rather than overpowering, which I appreciate.

That 12 months in barrel really shows—there's a lovely layer of vanilla under the dark fruit that keeps me coming back for another glass. The tempranillo body is smooth enough to sip on its own but sturdy next to lamb.