BODEGA CARMEN RODRÍGUEZ MÉNDEZ - CARODORUM - is a small, family owned, artisan winery situated in the prestigious "pago" of La Cascajera, in the heart of the region of TORO. Quite simply, it was founded on the family s passion for wine on the 2004. Each bottle of Carodorum joins family values, small scale production advantages, modern wine making technology and traditional grape growing techniques amongst a backdrop of the TINTA DE TORO variety. This variety is the region s point of difference and point of inspiration for the family at Carodorum. Vineyards The family owned vineyards are planted on the banks of the Duero River in gravel and limestone soils which create perfect growing conditions. Following a strict selection and control process, each individual parcel of vineyard is harvested at its peak of ripeness and produced separately allowing Carodorum to produce wines which represent the individual parcels of land they come from. Wine making State-of-the-art technology is used to preserve the characteristics of the TINTA DE TORO variety. Fermentation takes place in temperature controlled stainless tanks while a wide array of premium oak barrels are used for ageing. The wines are aged for a minimum of 6 months to add the necessary structure and depth. Wine maker and tradition The family of Guillermo Diez has been growing grapes in Toro for generations, but he is the first formal winemaker in his family. After completing his major in Oenology, Diez created his first vintage in 2003, and his wines are amongst the best in the region. Practically garage wines, only 65000 bottles are made. Everything is carefully crafted by hand. The winery is located in the prestigious pago of La Cascajera, in the heart of Toro. The estate vineyards are planted on the banks of the Duero River, in gravel and limestone soils. This part of Zamora is one of the very few places in Spain where Phylloxera never took hold. For our top wine (Carodorum Selección Especial), we use only grapes that come from ungrafted vines that are more than 100 years old. Guillermo continues to take care of the vines in the same way his ancestors did without pesticides or fertilizers; all organic matter is reused; the soil is plowed without machines (by hand in some cases); and the grapes are handpicked.
Winery: BODEGA CARODORUM Name of the wine: CARODORUM ISSOS Vintage: 2013 Grape variety: 100% TINTA DE TORO Climate: Continental, with influences of Atlantic Climate. Big oscillations of temperature during the day and night. Soil: stony, sandy and dull soils. Age of the vineyards: 30-35 year old. Harvest: by hand, in cases of 15 Kg. (October) Wine-making: Malolactic fermentation in barrel. Temperature maintained at 26 C. Aged for 10 months in French oak. Filtering: Light filtration before bottling Alcohol: Vol. 15,0 % Food pairing: it is perfect with sirloin steak and other grilled meat such as suckling lamb, braised vegetables, bean stews, shank and other Spanish bean dishes. Very good match with cheese, as well. Tasting notes: Colour: opaque purple-coloured, it has an attractive perfume of toast, violets, spice box, liquorice, black currant, and blackberry. Nose: initially, can be appreciated slight notes of oak that rise through the fruit and blend with touches of spice and hints of sweetness of the mature berry fruits. Once open, the full force of pure TINTA DE TORO fruit dominates the glass with notes of blackberry and dark berry fruit jam. Mouth: delicate and inviting with gentle notes of oak developing as the wine opens on the palate. Full and deep with a long finish indicating still its youth. Rating / Awards: 89 Points. Wine Advocate (Parker) (Vintage 2007 and 2012) 89 Points Peñín Guide (Vintage 2008 and 2011). 88 Points (Vintage 2009) 90 Points. Wine Advocate (Parker) (Vintage 2010) 90 Points Peñín Guide, Gold Zarcillo (Vintage 2012) 92 Wine Enthusiast, 90 James Suckling, 91 Peñín (Vintage 2013)
Winery: BODEGA CARODORUM Name of the wine: CARODORUM Vintage: 2013 Grape variety: 100% TINTA DE TORO Climate: Continental, with influences of Athlantic Climate. Big oscillations of temperature Turing the day and night. Soils: stony, sandy and dull soils. Age of the vineyards: 40-80 year old. Harvest: by hand in cases of 15 Kg. (September-October) Wine-making: Malolactic fermentation in barrel. Temperature maintained at 26 C. Aged for 15 months in French oak barrels. Filtering: Light filtration before bottling Alcohol: Vol. 14,9 % Food pairing: It is an ideal partner for game meat and stews. It combines perfectly with legumes and mature cheese. Also with cured cheese, baked fig and quince paste. Tasting notes: Opaque purple-coloured, it has an attractive perfume of toast, violets, spices, liquorice, black currant, and blackberry. Full-bodied palate with notes of kirsch and chocolate. A full, layered wine with supple, structured tannins and several years of aging potential. Rating / Awards: 90 Wine Advocate (Parker) / 90 Wine&Spirits (Vintage 2007) 90 Peñín Points (Vintage 2008 and 2012) 89 Peñín Points (Vintage 2009) 91 Wine Advocate (Parker) (Vintage 2010) 88 Wine Advocate (Parker) (Vintage 2011) 89 Wine Advocate (Parker) (Vintage 2012) Silver Medal (DECANTER World Wine Awards) (Vintage 2012) Silver Medal (DECANTER World Wine Awards), 90 Peñin (Vintage 2013)
Company: BODEGA CARODORUM Name: CARODORUM SELECCIÓN ESPECIAL Vintage: 2012 Grape variety: 100% TINTA DE TORO (Tempranillo) Climate: continental climate with a light oceanic influence and considerable fluctuations in temperature with very dry hot summers and precipitation between 350 and 400 mm/year and average annual temperatures of 12,5 ºC, provides good conditions for plant life to flourish and ensures sufficient maturing of the sugar and polyphenolic levels in our grapes. Soils: in some plots the stony ground with large quartzite stones is also on the surface therefore helping to regulate temperatures and favour the polyphenolic ripening of the grape. The land on each of our plots is cared for by taking into account the textural and structural differences of the soil along with other wine-growing factors with the objective of obtaining complete and balanced ripeness of the grape whilst bearing the intrinsic personality of each individual plot. Age of the vineyards: 80-100 years Harvest: by hand, in 15 Kg boxes. Limited production of only 5000 bottles. Making: malolactic fermentation in barrels. The temperature is maintained to 26 ºC (78,8 ºF). Aging: 25 months in French oak barrels. Filtering: slightly filtering before bottling which helps to maintain all of its aromas. Alcohol: Vol. 15 % Pairing: it is perfect with sirloin steak and other grilled meat such as suckling lamb, braised vegetables, bean stews, shank and other Spanish bean dishes. Very good match with cheese, as well. Tasting notes: Colour: opaque purple-coloured, it has an attractive perfume of toast, violets, spice box, liquorice, black currant, and blackberry. Nose: initially, can be appreciated slight notes of oak that rise through the fruit and blend with touches of spice and hints of sweetness of the mature berry fruits. Once open, the full force of pure TINTA DE TORO fruit dominates the glass with notes of blackberry and dark berry fruit jam. Mouth: delicate and inviting with gentle notes of oak developing as the wine opens on the palate. The tannic structure gives volume and good weight. Full and deep with a long finish indicating still its youth.
Rating / Awards: 92+ Wine Advocate / 91 Wine&Spirits (Vintage 2007) 92 Parker / 92 Peñín Points (Vintage 2008) 92 Peñín Points (Vintage 2009) 91 Peñín Points (Vintage 2010) 91+ Wine Advocate / 91 Wine&Spirits (Vintage 2011) 91 Wine Advocate (Parker), 91 James Suckling and 91 Peñín Points (Vintage 2012) 90 Decanter (Vintage 2013)
Company: BODEGA CARODORUM Name: CARODORUM ÚNICO Vintage: 2012 Grape variety: 100% TINTA DE TORO (Tempranillo) Climate: continental climate with a light oceanic influence and considerable fluctuations in temperature with very dry hot summers and precipitation between 350 and 400 mm/year and average annual temperatures of 12,5 ºC, provides good conditions for plant life to flourish and ensures sufficient maturing of the sugar and polyphenolic levels in our grapes. Soils: in some plots the stony ground with large quartzite stones is also on the surface therefore helping to regulate temperatures and favour the polyphenolic ripening of the grape. The land on each of our plots is cared for by taking into account the textural and structural differences of the soil along with other wine-growing factors with the objective of obtaining complete and balanced ripeness of the grape whilst bearing the intrinsic personality of each individual plot. Age of the vineyards: >100 years Harvest: by hand, in 15 Kg boxes. Limited production of only 5000 bottles. Making: malolactic fermentation in barrels. The temperature is maintained to 26 ºC (78,8 ºF). Aging: 30 months in French oak barrels. Filtering: slightly filtering before bottling which helps to maintain all of its aromas. Alcohol: Vol. 15 % Pairing: it is perfect with sirloin steak and other grilled meat such as suckling lamb, braised vegetables, bean stews, shank and other Spanish bean dishes. Very good match with cheese, as well. Tasting notes: Colour: opaque purple-coloured, it has an attractive perfume of toast, violets, spice box, liquorice, black currant, and blackberry. Nose: initially, can be appreciated slight notes of oak that rise through the fruit and blend with touches of spice and hints of sweetness of the mature berry fruits. Once open, the full force of pure TINTA DE TORO fruit dominates the glass with notes of blackberry and dark berry fruit jam. Mouth: delicate and inviting with gentle notes of oak developing as the wine opens on the palate. The tannic structure gives volume and good weight. Full and deep with a long finish indicating still its youth.
Rating / Awards: 92 Wine Advocate / Parker (Vintage 2006) 93+ Wine Advocate / Parker (Vintage 2007) 94 Wine Advocate / Parker (Vintage 2008) 91 Wine Advocate / Parker (Vintage 2012) / 90 James Suckling