La Hormiga de Antídoto 2021

La Hormiga is the top red from Bertrand Sourdais, principally sourced from the clay-based soils on the northern side of the Duero river. Matured in 27% new wood, it’s a focused, nuanced, well-balanced Tinto Fino with layered tannins, tangerine, blood orange and blackberry fruit and a fresh, tapering finish. 2024-30

Ripe but very fresh at the same time with a complex nose exuding hints of smoked tarragon, cigar box and dark chocolate upon its blue and black fruit background. Refined and fine-grained on the palate with a full body and a lengthy, tight finish. Drink from 2024.

The 2021 La Hormiga was produced with grapes from the villages of Quintanilla de Tres Barrios, Matanza de Soria and Villálvaro where the clay in the soil produces powerful, voluptuous and creamy wines. It fermented in stainless steel tanks with indigenous yeasts and matured for 10 months in French oak barriques, 25% of them new, create a "reserva" style red. It has 14.9% alcohol, mellow acidity and 3.6 grams of unfermented sugar. They have lowered the amount of new oak, and the wine shows a lot more integration and freshness and more purity. The wine is gentle, balanced and elegant within the inherent power of the zone. One of the finest vintages of this cuvée to date. 51,000 bottles and 1,050 magnums produced. It was bottled in November 2022.