2021, REAL DE ASŪA, 'Carromaza', by CVNE (Rioja)

100% Tempranillo.

This wine was born in 1994 as a tribute to the founders of the winery, the Real de Asūa brothers. Carromaza vineyard is located in the village of Villalba, high up the Rioja Alta and made up of 30 year old Tempranillo vines, south facing on light soils.

Charred sandalwood, taut fruit, eucalyptus and mint, with waves of cloves and rose petals. As it opens you suddenly get studded by anis, fennel, not overly marked by the oak, with a savoury edge that makes for a mouthwatering finish. Generous and accessible, this will age well but no need to wait more than a year or two to begin enjoying. The 2021 vintage saw an extended growing season in Rioja because of a great late September and October weather. 96 Jane Anson.

Such an exuberant, floral nose with lots of berries, plums, dark cherries, ink and touches of dark minerals, mussels and spices. Quite pristine and naked, with a medium to full body and a mouthful of powerful, sensuous tannins. Great tension. A super-confident, single-vineyard wine without much adornment. Drink or hold. 96 James Suckling.

I tasted the 2021 Real de Asūa, which was already in bottle. 2021 was cooler, and the wine has a little less alcohol than the 2020 I tasted next to it. It comes from the same vines and the process was similar, but in this case, they didn't use any new barrels in the aging, which took place in 100% second-use barriques. This was very recently bottled, somehow creamy and with a more oxidative touch and a more solid palate, a little more exuberant and with abundant tannins that need time to get polished and/or powerful food. 96 Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate.