Pardevalles Carroleón

The ashy and smoky 2015 Carroleón Prieto Picudo comes from the vineyard of the same name, planted in 1999 at 830 meters in altitude. The wine has a classical profile (it can even remind you of some Riojas), a style from the mid-1990s, and it was aged in brand new barriques for two years. But somehow, the wine has taken the oak better than the Gamonal, and even if it's oaky, it has more nuance and perfume. The palate is medium to full-bodied with abundant dusty tannins. It should do well with rustic and powerful food to match the style of the wine. 3,900 bottles were filled in February 2018.

This has a very approachable feel with mellow, aged cherries and soft, mid-weight tannins. Drink now.