Pago de los Capellanes : Reserva 2021

Tasting Characteristics and Advice for the Reserva 2021 from Pago de los Capellanes

Tasting

Color

The color reveals an intense ruby hue with garnet highlights, with a thin, clear rim. The chromatic intensity gradually deepens toward the edge of the glass while retaining beautiful transparency.

Nose

The nose reveals fine aromatic complexity that unfolds progressively. Ripe fruit aromas dominate, with notes of cherry, redcurrant and blackcurrant. With aeration, secondary nuances emerge: smoky, toasty and spicy touches, accompanied by subtle notes of vanilla, coconut and sweet spices. Hints of licorice and balsamic notes complete this elegant bouquet.

Palate

The attack on the palate is fresh and well-balanced despite its richness and concentration. The powerful tannic structure reveals fully ripe, perfectly integrated tannins, offering a silky texture. The wine fills the palate generously while maintaining a lively energy that brings lift and avoids any heaviness. Flavors of ripe fruit linger, joined by spicy and oaky notes. The long, complex finish showcases roasted aromas and a persistent tannic texture that refreshes the palate.

Food and Wine Pairing

This Reserva 2021 is an ideal match for roasted and grilled meats, particularly lamb with red wine sauces, suckling pig, and cuts of beef such as tenderloins. It also pairs perfectly with aged hard cheeses, especially cow’s milk cheeses with a complex, slightly salty character. Iberian cured meats and certain sausage preparations with rich, savory flavors also make excellent pairings.

Serving and Cellaring

It is recommended to serve the Reserva 2021 at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. Decanting for one hour before serving allows the wine to open fully and reveal all its aromatic complexity. This wine has exceptional aging potential and can evolve favorably until around 2046, depending on cellaring conditions.

A Ribera del Duero Reserva Combining Power and Elegance

The Estate

Founded in 1996 by Paco Rodero and his wife Conchita Villa, Pago de los Capellanes is located in Pedrosa de Duero, in Castile and León. The estate takes its name from vineyard parcels that belonged to the village chaplains in the 15th century and is situated at the heart of Ribera del Duero. Today, the property is run by Estefanía Rodero Villa, the founders’ daughter, who joined the family business in 2015 as General Manager. The estate spans around 120 hectares of vineyards divided into 44 distinct parcels. Pago de los Capellanes stands out for its commitment to sustainable and organic viticultural practices, as well as its parcel-by-parcel winemaking philosophy, which allows the diversity of Spanish terroirs to be expressed.

The Vineyard

The Reserva 2021 comes from a selection of the estate’s oldest parcels located in Pedrosa de Duero, at around 800 meters above sea level. The vines, some of which are over 80 years old, are rooted in clay-limestone soils strewn with surface gravel, characterized by very limited fertility. These soil conditions, combined with the extreme continental climate of Ribera del Duero, promote optimal grape ripening. The significant temperature swings between day and night during the ripening period help develop concentration, color intensity and tannic structure while preserving fine freshness.

The Vintage

The 2021 vintage began with Storm Filomena in January, bringing abundant snowfall and intense cold that replenished soil water reserves and slightly delayed budburst. Spring proved favorable, with good vegetative growth and a satisfactory flowering. Summer showed contrasts: a cool July followed by a dry August. Thanks to the water reserves accumulated during winter, the vines withstood summer water stress, although some clusters suffered minor heat-related damage. The grapes nonetheless reached excellent maturity, with rich aromatic expression and abundant polyphenol content.

Winemaking and Aging

The grapes for the Reserva 2021 were harvested by hand in small crates to preserve the integrity of the berries. Cold maceration below 12°C for three days preceded fermentation, enabling the extraction of aromatic and coloring compounds. Alcoholic fermentation took place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks with indigenous yeasts, accompanied by regular pump-overs to maintain contact between the must and the solids. Malolactic fermentation occurred spontaneously in French oak barrels, with regular lees stirring. The wine was then aged for 14 months in extra-fine-grain French oak barrels of 225 and 300 liters. After bottling without filtration or fining, the Reserva 2021 benefited from a further 20 months of bottle aging before release.

Grape Variety

100% tempranillo (tinto fino)