Protos Cosecha 2019

Protos Cosecha 2019 is sold here as a Spanish red from the 2019 vintage. The listing doesn't name the grape, ABV or oak regime, so the notes below describe what Spanish reds in this style usually deliver, not a measured profile of this bottle. Cosecha is a Spanish term for a young, vintage-dated red that sees limited barrel time. Expect a medium- to full-bodied wine with dark cherry, plum and blackberry fruit, plus dried herb, leather or light vanilla and spice if some oak was used. Tannins in this tier are typically firm but rounded, acidity is fresh enough to keep the fruit from feeling heavy, and the finish tends to be moderate, with a dry, savory edge. Because this style is built around savory fruit and grip, it suits grilled and roasted meat best. Lamb chops, chorizo, grilled sausages, braised short rib and hard sheep's-milk cheeses such as Manchego all match its structure. Tomato-based dishes, paella with chorizo, roasted peppers and mushroom dishes also work well. A very spicy or sweet sauce will clash with the tannin, so keep it simple. Serve it slightly below room temperature, around 16 to 18°C (60 to 65°F). Thirty minutes in the fridge before opening gets a warm bottle into range. A young red like this usually opens up with 30 to 45 minutes of air. Pour it into a decanter or just let it breathe in a wide-bowled red wine or Bordeaux-style glass, which gives the fruit and spice room to open. If the wine tastes tight when first poured, a little extra air should soften it. At roughly seven years from vintage, a bottle like this is generally best opened over the next few years, not cellared for the long term. Wines of this kind can hold on a little longer if stored cool, dark and on their side. Without a stated tannin or structure profile for this bottle, though, there's no particular reason to wait.