Dominio Aguila, Ribera del Duero, Canta Perdiz 2018

The 2018 Canta la Perdiz feels like a more rustic version of the 2016, with earthiness and abundant tannins and more backward than the approachable and juicy 2019 I tasted next to it. It fermented with full clusters and indigenous yeasts in concrete vats followed by a slow malolactic in barrel and 37 months in those barrels. The wine is still a little oaky, spicy and smoky, with good ripeness, 14.5% alcohol, good freshness and balance and abundant tannins that feel a little rustic. We'll have to see how the wine develops in bottle. 1,365 bottles and 32 magnums were filled in November 2021.