Bodegas Mauro Castilla y León VT

Castilla y León VT, Spain

Old-vine Tempranillo from Mariano García's Tudela de Duero estate, vinified with Vega Sicilia-level precision. Blackberry, dark cherry, cedar, tobacco leaf and a distinctive iron-mineral note from the Duero's sandy soils; full-bodied with exceptional structure and twenty-plus years' cellaring potential.

Pairing intelligence

• main: The wine's Tempranillo depth and cedar-mineral structure demand the intensity of aged ox beef — one of Spain's most classical pairings.
• starter: The wine's dark-fruit richness and structure complement the spiced, blood-rich character of Castilla's most famous morcilla.