Dominio de Es Carravilla 2020 en Primeur

Fabulous nose here, as is the case with the rest of Dominio de Es wines, showing rare etherealness from Ribera del Duero. Minerals, crushed violets, dark spices and berries. Bone-dry and nicely austere on the palate, with dense, chalky tannins that provide a stony feel to the palate. Barolo-like tannins and pinot-like purity. Best from 2026.

As I previewed in barrel last year, the 2020 Carravilla has lower alcohol than ever and was finally bottled at 13.1%. It fermented destemmed and matured in three French oak barrels for some 19 months. As I previewed in the barrel sample I tasted in June 2021, this is not as ethereal and fine-boned as the Viñas Viejas de Soria, and in fact, despite the lower alcohol and the paler color, it also seems to be more powerful and rustic than the 2021 Carravilla that I tasted next to it. It has abundant tannins that are going to require more time in bottle. Only 793 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2022.