Clos De Lôm Tempranillo 2023

A classy, pure, textbook Tempranillo that really shows off this varieties fruit character: strawberries, cherries and plums. Subtle violet hints too and a touch of toasted spice on the palate. Big and powerful, but lacking no grace, this is elegant and smooth with a lovely long finish thanks to an uplifting mineral acidity. I'll have my first glass whilst the barbecue is heating, and will polish off the bottle nicely with lamb, pomegranate and feta flatbreads. 

Clos de Lôm is a family-run estate with roots going back to 1836, but there’s nothing dusty about what they’re doing today. The vineyards of Clos de Lom are located in the “Valle Dels Alforins”, within Valencia's GI, planted 600 metres above sea level. Here they benefit from southern warmth, balanced by freshness provided by altitude. The wines across the board are pure and expressive.

Wines from this part of Spain have been improving dramatically in recent years and Clos de Lôm are setting the benchmark for quality. The focus is on local grape varieties; Monastrell, Garnacha and Malvasia, alongside Tempranillo. The vineyards sit on a mix of clay and limestone, with warm days, cool nights and a bit of Mediterranean influence (the sea’s not far off), which keeps things fresh and balanced. Old bush vines, no irrigation, and all picked by hand. Proper farming.