Ribera del Duero 2022, Pago de Carraovejas

This is the new standard of top flight Ribera del Duero, located on the fabled ‘Golden Mile’, where the very finest estates are found. It is incredibly complex, and while beautiful to drink immediately, it will also reward cellaring. It has a delectable aroma of sumptuous red fruit, liquorice, gingerbread and freshly-baked apricot flan, with the most delicate seasoning of toasted oak. Despite being a ripe and rich-textured wine, it gives the overall impression of beautiful balance and elegance. Superb. Pago de Carraovejas is a Spanish institution originally conceived in 1987 when the country’s top sommelier, Jose Maria Ruiz, needed a wine elegant enough to pair with his suckling pig that he was hitherto unable to find on the market. Ever since, the wine has sold out on allocation. At the hands of Pingus winemaker, Patricia Benitiez, and with input from incredible winemakers such as Vega Sicilia’s Javier Ausas, it truly is the new standard of modern Ribera del Duero wines. With some of the highest vineyards in the region at 850m elevation, the clay-rich limestone soils bring beautiful refinement and perfect ripeness to the Tinto Fino, Cabernet and Merlot grapes.