Red wines from Ribera del Duero

Opulent, intense Ribera brimming with overripe blackberry and plum fruits over a frame of well-judged, toasty oak. Full bodied, with a moderately-tannic wash of black fruit, pepper and menthol. Very powerful and impressive.

Drink 2012-2020, after decanting, with fillet steak, grilled red meats or a game stew.

Bodegas Carramimbre forms part of the El Pingón estate in the Valladolid province of Spain, and was set up in 1997 by an association of long-established winemaking families from the Ribera del Duero region.

The estate covers more than fifty hectares of vineyards, and French and American oak barrels inside the winery lend their distinctive character to the range of wines produced, which regularly find favour with the Peñin and Parker Guides and from other critics world-wide.

Concentrated and seductive Ribera exuding alluring notes of grilled meats, leather, raisins and figs, overlaid with spicy mocha, hazelnut and cedar. A huge amount going on in the glass! Potent, masculine and ageworthy.

Drink this very full-flavoured and powerful Spanish red either on its own as a vino da meditazione or else alongside special roast dinners or winter suppers featuring wild fowl or game.

This is a terrific example of a very sociable Spanish 'young wine': not too full-bodied but with a hint of oak (roble), brisk tannins and concentrated flavours of mulberry, raspberry and clove from a blend of Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Drink with a plate of ham or tapas as though you were in Spain, or let its gentle oak flavours partner meat or vegetable dishes as a crowd-pleasing quaffer.

The Ribera del Duero region, which was awarded DO status in 1982, spans the upper valley of the river Duero. At some 800m above sea level, the growing season is relatively short, and frost is an ever-present threat in spring, though temperatures can soar in summer to a scorching 40 degrees Celsius.

The region's principal grape variety is Tinta del País (also known as Tinto Fino and, of course, Tempranillo) aided and abetted by Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and, occasionally, the white grape Albillo. Garnacha here is used for rosé.

Here's an advert from the Ribera del Duero promotion board encouraging us to visit the Peñafiel area and enjoy its wines. Even if that's not an option, a flavour of those sunny good times is just a sip away with every bottle of Carramimbre.