La Loba wine originates in the small village of Matanza de Soria in a cooler area just inside the border of the DO Ribera del Duero. Owner, winemaker, and viticulturist, Ana Carazo farms small vineyards of recovered (mostly pre-phylloxera) 100-year-old Tempranillo vines. At 900-1,000 meters above sea level, Ana’s vineyards are influenced by long, cold winters, moderate rainfall, occasional late spring frosts, and summers with cool nights. Viticulture and harvest are entirely manual and carried out by Ana with the help of her friends and family.
La Loba 2018
100% Tempranillo from organic, recuperated 100-year-old vines in the high elevation (900-1,000 meters) eastern edge of Ribera del Duero.
Winemaking: Spontaneous fermentation and gentle racking by gravity. Aged for 14 months in used 225L French oak barrels. Bottled in September 2020 and aged an additional year in bottle prior to release.
Production: 6,960 bottles
La Loba 2019
100% Tempranillo from organic, recuperated 100-year-old vines in the high elevation (900-1,000 meters) eastern edge of Ribera del Duero.
Winemaking: Spontaneous fermentation and gentle racking by gravity. Aged for 9 months in used 225L French oak barrels and aged an additional year in bottle prior to release.
Production: 6,960 bottles
La Lobita 2021
75% Tempranillo and 25% Albillo from organic, recuperated 100-year-old vines in the high elevation (900-1,000 meters) eastern edge of Ribera del Duero.
Winemaking: Spontaneous fermentation and gentle racking by gravity. Co-fermented in used 500L French oak barrels. Bottled in the spring of 2022 and held a year in bottle prior to release.
Production: 1,339 bottles
Decanter 94 - La Loba 2017
Reviewed by: Tim Atkin, MW
Issue Date: August 18, 2021
Ana Carazo's bijou operation in Matanza de Soria is well worth tracking down, as her wines are among the best in the sub-region and are improving with every vintage. This comes from red clay soils at 960m and is floral, textured, refined and well balanced, with good underlying structure and tannin and the racy acidity that's so typical of Ribera's eastern border. Drink 2021-2028.
Peñín 93 - La Loba 2019
Color: Deep cherry. Nose: Complex, expressive, spicy, mineral, ripe fruit. Palate: Elegant, full-bodied, long, great length.
Peñín 92 - La Lobita 2021
Color: Cherry, purple rim. Nose: Red berry notes, floral, spicy, fine lees. Palate: Flavorful, fruity, good acidity.