Pago de Carraovejas El Anejón 2021

Pago de Carraovejas, founded by Jose Maria Ruiz, is a leading estate in Ribera del Duero, and El Anejon is one of its top wines, made only in the finest vintages. The fruit comes from El Anejon itself, a natural amphitheatre of terraces facing the castle of Penafiel, the first terraced plot worked in the appellation. The soils are loamy limestone with marked minerality, and the high Castilian plateau brings a continental climate of hot days and cold nights, a swing that builds colour, ripe tannin and depth while holding acidity. Tinto Fino, the local Tempranillo, leads the blend, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot adding structure and dark fruit. The wine spends twelve months in barrel followed by twelve months in bottle, the oak ageing allowing slow oxygen exchange that fixes colour and softens the firm tannin while adding spice and toast. The colour is a deep, dense ruby. The nose shows blackberry, blueberry and plum with spice, liquorice and well-judged oak. The palate is full bodied and structured, the firm tannin framed by fresh acidity and a long, savoury finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees and decant an hour ahead. Good with red meat and game.