2023 Pago de Carraovejas - Tempranillo Ribera del Duero Tinto (750ml)
Pago de Carraovejas has been a benchmark producer in Ribera del Duero since José María Ruiz established the estate in 1987, choosing a hillside site in Peñafiel prized for centuries by local growers for its exceptional grape ripening conditions. Sitting at roughly 850 meters above sea level, the vineyards benefit from limestone soils layered with red clay and white marl, a combination that drains well and helps the vines cope with the region's extreme continental climate.
The 2023 vintage is built primarily around Tempranillo, rounded out with small additions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Grapes are hand-harvested and undergo a careful double selection, first in the vineyard and again in the winery, before gravity-flowing into oak for fermentation and twelve months of aging in a combination of French and American barrels.
In the glass, this wine shows notes of black cherry and ripe plum, layered with hints of blue flowers and a touch of vanilla from the oak. The texture is velvety, framed by firm yet polished tannins that carry through to a long, juicy finish. It is a full-bodied red suited to milk-fed lamb, roasted meats, and other hearty fare.