La Hormiga de Antídoto 2019

The 2019 La Hormiga comes from an old organically farmed (but not certified) vineyard planted in 1922 in Quintanilla de Tres Barrios in the north part of the Soria province, on red clay and limestone soils that deliver voluptuous and creamy wines. It fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured in 225-liter French oak barrels, 30% of them new, for 16 months. This is ripe and generous, a powerful Ribera del Duero with integrated oak, a little smokier than the regular Antídoto from the same vintage. There is a lactic touch and some creaminess. It has a striking chalky sensation on the palate from the red limestone soils. 25,000 bottles, 1,050 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in May 2021.

La Hormiga hails from dozens of small parcels on clay and limestone soils to the north of the Duero river in the villages of Matanza, Quintanilla de Tres Barrios and Villálvaro. Aged in 50% new French oak, it has wonderful precision and focus, violet and rose petal aromas, a hint of Mediterranean garrigue, tangy red cherry and blackberry fruit and a sheen of wood spices. 2022-28.