Winemaker Notes
It is characterized by its bold violet color and attractive nose, with aromas of red fruit such as raspberry and sharp strawberry, as well as notes of red liqorice. These flavors are perfectly integrated with the wood, bringing excellence and depth, with an underlying essence of patisserie. On the palate it is highly aromatic, with a delicate and elegant texture, and a very fresh finish.
Blend: 52% Tempranillo, 26% Garnacha, 20% Graciano, 2% Malbec
Professional Ratings
-
Vinous
The 2019 Cuvée Palomar is a blend of 52% Tempranillo, 26% Garnacha, 20% Graciano and 2% Malbec from Sardón del Duero and was aged for two years in 20% new French and American oak barrels. Garnet-red with a purplish sheen. The nose displays plum, violets and sour cherry aromas. It shows subtle lactic and oaky notes. This is a dry and slightly lean red with a juicy, delicate palate and creamy feel.
-
James Suckling
Integrated oak spices that deliver a hint of incense to the rich, minty dark cherries, grilled herbs and cocoa powder on the nose. This is ripe, dense and full-bodied on the palate with powdery tannins and lots of vanilla and mocha coming through in the long, flavorful finish. Drink or hold.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
They resumed producing one of their earlier wines in 2017, and the 2019 Cuvée Palomar has finesse and power. It was produced with a blend of 52% Tempranillo, 26% Garnacha, 20% Graciano and 2% Malbec that achieved high ripeness in this warm year, hitting the scale at 15% alcohol, but with low pH of 3.49. It matured for 14 months in oak barrels, 25% of them new. It's spicy, smoky, tender, expressive and complex, with no varietal footprint; it's Mediterranean, balsamic and aromatic with candied fruit, notes of herbs and sweet spices. It's powerful but fresh and has mellow acidity.
The rebirth of a historic vineyard and of a whole winemaking tradition, the excellence of which remains intact, laid the foundations for today’s Abadía Retuerta winery. It now has over 30 years of history, as expert hands manage the vineyard by carefully looking after it and creating unique wines with their own Protected Designation of Origin.
Abadía Retuerta is a unique place where time stands still and feelings run high. Here, the past lives on in the present, and centuries of tradition and culture remain intact. It sits within an enclave bathed by the river Duero, which defines the traits of the surrounding terroir. Experts with great patience, know-how and anticipation really get the best out of the terrain: they respect the natural cycles and help the vines adapt to the austere climate of the region, in order to produce one of the estate’s most prized assets: its first-rate wine.
Spanish red wine is known for being bold, heady, rustic and age-worthy, Spain is truly a one-of-a-kind wine-producing nation. A great majority of the country is hot, arid and drought-ridden, and since irrigation has only been recently introduced and (controversially) accepted, viticulture has sustained—and flourished—only through a great understanding of Spain’s particular conditions. Large spacing between vines allows each enough resources to survive and as a result, the country has the most acreage under vine compared to any other country, but is usually third in production.
Of the Spanish red wines, the most planted and respected grape variety is Tempranillo, the star of Spain’s Rioja and Ribera del Duero regions. Priorat specializes in bold red blends, Jumilla has gained global recognition for its single varietal Monastrell and Utiel-Requena has garnered recent attention for its reds made of Bobal.