What it pairs with
-
Roast lamb shoulder
Concentrated dark fruit and firm tannins match slow-roasted Castilian lamb. -
Grilled ribeye with garlic
The wine's structure and dark fruit are ideal with charred beef and garlic. -
Aged Manchego
Firm sheep's milk cheese and the wine's mineral and dark fruit notes create balance.
How to serve Malabrigo
Allow 65 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 60 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 14-16°C. Cellar temperature (14-16°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a Burgundy bowl with a wide opening: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Roast lamb shoulder, Grilled ribeye with garlic, Aged Manchego. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Malabrigo is Bodegas Cepa 21's premium selection, introduced in 2005 from the estate's oldest and most selected Tinto Fino plots at Pesquera de Duero. It represents a step up in concentration and oak from the estate Cepa 21.
- 2005 — Malabrigo first produced from selected old Tinto Fino parcels at Pesquera de Duero
Facts
- Producer
- Bodegas Cepa 21
- Grapes
- Tinto Fino (100%)
- Classification
- DO Ribera del Duero
- Oak
- 18 months in new French oak barriques
- ABV
- 14.5%
- Price
- €40-70 at retail
- Drinking window
- 8-20 from vintage
- First vintage
- 2005
Frequently asked about Malabrigo
When should I drink Malabrigo?
Drink 8-20 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Malabrigo?
Roast lamb shoulder is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Grilled ribeye with garlic and Aged Manchego. Concentrated dark fruit and firm tannins match slow-roasted Castilian lamb.
What grapes are in Malabrigo?
The blend is Tinto Fino (100%). The wine is classified as DO Ribera del Duero.