2019 Pago de Carraovejas (750ml)

Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero, Castilla y Leon, Spain

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Recognized by critics and Spanish wine lovers as one of Ribera del Duero's most sought-after reds, the 92pt 2019 Pago de Carraovejas is a powerful Tempranillo blend layering rich, juicy fruit with fresh acidity and a long-lived finish, beautifully balanced and crafted with the complexity to age at value pricing under $50.

Founded in 1987 by restaurateur Jose Maria Ruiz with 9 hectares of vines, the iconic Bodega Pago de Carraovejas is located on the fabled "Golden Mile" among Ribera's finest estates, its high elevation vineyards planted in the rolling hills overlooking the Botijas River Valley with expansive views of the ancient Penafiel castle that crowns the nearby village. Planted in a mix of limestone, chalk and sand, the vines enjoy the moderating influence of the nearby Duero River, with the surrounding hills protecting them from harsh northern winds and the exposure to afternoon sun optimizing ripening. Now under the leadership of Jose's son since 2007 with the guidance of consultant Xavier Ausas, formerly winemaker of Vega Sicilia, Pago de Carraovejas has employed improvements in both viticulture and winemaking, merging their Crianza and Reserva bottlings into the singular, exceptional Pago de Carraovejas blend in 2015, while converting to sustainable viticulture and emphasizing the purity of fruit by limiting the use of new oak. Fermenting the blend of mostly Tempranillo with small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in a mix of stainless steel and French oak vats with indigenous yeasts, winemaker Almudena Calvo aged the 2019 Pago de Carraovejas for 12 months in about a third new French and American oak barrels before bottling, cellaring it for another 12 months prior to its release and yielding fresh, elegant fruit with hints of flinty minerality from a vintage declared "excellent" by the Ribera DO.

With nearly all its production distributed in Spain, the rare opportunity to enjoy the 92pt 2019 Pago de Carraovejas is one not to be missed, a seriously complex wine value priced to enjoy now and ready to evolve in the cellar, available at a fraction of neighboring big name estates.

92WS

91JS

An elegant, medium- to full-bodied red, well-meshed in the marriage of sleek acidity and fine tannins to a lightly mouthwatering mix of crème de cassis and blackberry coulis fruit flavors. Offers hints of wild sage, mocha and anise, with a lasting, mineral-laced finish. Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2029. 50,000 cases made, 3,500 cases imported.

92 points, Alison Napjus, Wine Spectator (Jul 2022)

A sweetly spiced nose of ripe blackberries, blueberries, chocolate, coconut and vanilla. It’s full-bodied with creamy tannins. Round and rich with a flavorful finish. Drink now.

91 points, James Suckling (Oct 2021)

Alcohol By Volume: 15.0%

#ESPRTE19AE

$49.98

Compare At: $54.99

9 bottles in stock. Ships in 1 to 2 business days.

Add to Wishlist