Dominio del Carabo

Rioja

Location Abalos, Rioja Alavesa - 9 Ha
Grapes Tempranillo, Garnacha, Viura, Malvasia, Tempranillo Blanco
Viticulture Organic (uncertified)
Producer Gonzalo Rodriguez
Website dominiodelcarabo.com
Location Abalos, Rioja Alavesa - 9 Ha
Grapes Tempranillo, Garnacha, Viura, Malvasia, Tempranillo Blanco
Viticulture Organic (uncertified)
Producer Gonzalo Rodriguez
Website dominiodelcarabo.com

Gonzalo Rodriguez is a ball of energy who founded his own bodegas after tiring of the larger ‘factories’ he was working for. He and his friends the Laorden’s, who own over 90 hectares of Alavesa and Alta vines set about picking the best 9 ha, all of which are farmed organically, to give Gonzalo some of the highest, oldest and frankly best vineyard sites in Rioja. The style has changed over time, but not his determination to produce fresh, drinkable and classy wines from his home region (he grew up in Logrono). His experimentation is already yielding some fascinating results, and these will come on line in the next year or so, and his ideas will make for an exciting future, so we are very happy to be part of that.


In January 2022 the winery acquired a permanent base right in the heart of Abalos. With a brand new cellar there has been some consolidation of the range (for a minute!). Disfruton reflects Gonzalo's lively side and is very much a soif style red. The domaine wines ; blanco, joven and crianza punch way above their simple titles. Each wine shows incredible freshness but also an accomplished maturity. For such young, drinkable wines nothing is out of place.


Dolmen Viejo Red is a slipper-soft mastery of Garnacha from what will one day surely be celebrated as one of the best areas in Rioja ; San Vicente de la Sonsierra. The Acacia wood egg used for the Cuvee is one of the most covetable fermentation units we have ever seen. The resulting wine sublime.

Dominio del Carabo Wines

Dominio del Carabo Blanco 100% Viura. 35 year old vines fermented and raised in small concete tanks. 1 month on gross lees followed by a further 4 months on fine lees. 20% of the final blend spends time in 500l old oak barrels
Dominio del Carabo Crianza Tempranillo and Viura. 25 - 55year old vines from Abalos, Brionnes and San Vicente de la Sonsierra. De-stemmed whole bunch fermentation in concrete. 12 months in lightly toasted French oak. 4 months in bottle.
Dominio del Carabo Coleccion de Parajes 100% Tempranillo. 60 year old vines from a 2ha plot sat at 590m in the village of Abalos. Fermentation is destemmed whole-bunch and takes place in 50% concrete, 50% French oak vats. A further 6 months is spent in concrete followed by 4 months in bottle.
Dolmen Viejo 100% Garnacha. 45year old vines from a 0.8ha site in San Vicente de la Sonsierra. Fermented in an open wooden vat then 20 months in 500l French oak.
Dominio del Carabo Blanco 100% Viura. 35 year old vines fermented and raised in small concete tanks. 1 month on gross lees followed by a further 4 months on fine lees. 20% of the final blend spends time in 500l old oak barrels
Dominio del Carabo Crianza Tempranillo and Viura. 25 - 55year old vines from Abalos, Brionnes and San Vicente de la Sonsierra. De-stemmed whole bunch fermentation in concrete. 12 months in lightly toasted French oak. 4 months in bottle.
Dominio del Carabo Coleccion de Parajes 100% Tempranillo. 60 year old vines from a 2ha plot sat at 590m in the village of Abalos. Fermentation is destemmed whole-bunch and takes place in 50% concrete, 50% French oak vats. A further 6 months is spent in concrete followed by 4 months in bottle.
Dolmen Viejo 100% Garnacha. 45year old vines from a 0.8ha site in San Vicente de la Sonsierra. Fermented in an open wooden vat then 20 months in 500l French oak.