Cartago Paraje del Pozo

2019 was milder in Toro than in Ribera del Duero, but a lack of rain meant lower yields of ripe grapes, which produced a powerful, deep and precise 2019 Cartago Paraje del Pozo that is elegant, concentrated and polished, with integrated oak after almost two years in bottle. It comes from a Tinta de Toro single vineyard that was planted ungrafted on sandy soils at 700 meters above sea level and is worked organically. Yields are 2,500 kilograms per hectare (low), and the grapes were picked on September 19, after which the destemmed grapes fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel for 15 days. It matured in new and used French oak barrels for 30 months. This epitomizes the house style with power, elegance and balance—terrific balance—complexity, depth and, I think, aging potential. 3,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2022.