Dominio de Es Viñas Viejas de Soria 2024 en Primeur

The very young 2024 Viñas Viejas de Soria has approximately 4% Albillo (less than in 2023) and 0.6% Alicante Bouschet to complement the Tempranillo from 25 plots of vines in the village of Atauta. It has contained ripeness and lower alcohol than the 2023 I tasted next to it. It fermented with 5% full clusters in oak vats of different sizes with indigenous yeasts and has been maturing in 23 Burgundian barrels since the January 15, 2024. They did a softer vinification this year, trying not to extract too much tannin, as the wine has less stuffing than the 2023. It does improve in the glass, which is a good sign, showing significantly better one hour later. The expectation is to produce around 7,000 bottles. He has a cooler cellar with more humidity, so he doesn't know if the élevage is going to be slower and might have to bottle them later.

Bertrand Sourdais describes the 2024 vintage in Soria as a "catastrophe", but he's talking more about the low, mildew-affected yields rather than the quality of the wines he produced. This old-vine cuvée of Tempranillo, 3% Albillo and 1% Alicante Bouschet has some texture and perfume from 15% whole bunches, a touch of appealing reduction, violet and wild thyme top notes and a core of bramble and damson fruit. 2027-32