Winemaker Notes
This is such an outstanding wine due to the sheer freshness of its grape varieties. At first, it has aromas of fresh fruit, such as grapefruit, as well as further delicate floral and herbaceous notes of lemon mint, peppermint, lemongrass and elderflower. In turn, these give way to hints of intense, ripe white fruit, such as pear and peach, along with creamy and lightly-spiced undertones. On the palate it is persistent and refreshing, with a vibrant acidity. This superb wine is vivid, ample and dense, with a certain lingering salinity in its finish.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Nice oak integration here, that adds a subtle, smoky twist to the flinty lemons and gooseberries. Fresh and pure, yet creamy, with good volume and breadth. Lemon curd and brioche on the palate and a bright finish. Sauvignon blanc and verdejo. Drinkable now, but can hold for 3-5 years, too.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The one white produced at the property is the 2020 Le Domaine, a blend of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Verdejo with a low pH denoting freshness and a cool year. It matured in French oak barrels, 20% of them new, for seven and a half months, during which time the lees were stirred every two days for the first three weeks. It has a beautiful and developed nose that is smoky, flinty and leesy, with notes of white flowers, developing more complexity.
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Wine Spectator
A silky white with a backbone of Meyer lemon peel acidity and a flint underpinning, this offers a finely meshed range of Asian pear, passion fruit, fresh tarragon and a touch of honeycomb. Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo. Drink now.
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.
White grapes are used in two famous types of Spanish wine, Sherry and Cava, but we will limit this discussion to still whites. Let’s begin with perhaps the best known and most highly regarded internationally, Albariño . Produced in the region of Rías Baixas, just above Portugal in northwestern Spain, Albariño typically sees no or little oak and is medium to medium-plus in body. Aroma and flavor notes often include citrus and peach, often with subtle floral notes and a suggestion of sea spray, giving the wine a zesty feel. Often bottled as a single varietal, Albariño is sometimes blended with other indigenous grapes like Loureira and Treixadura. Try one of these Spanish whites from Forjas del Salnes.
Let’s look at a few other Spanish white wines. Godello also hails from northwestern Spain and presents a profile of grapefruit, minerality and a slight smoky quality. Enjoy a bottle from Bodegas Avancia. The region of Rueda, northwest of Madrid, is home to Verdejo , which makes refreshing, un-oaked white wines whose herbal vibrancy recalls Sauvignon Blanc . Protos makes a tasty version. Up north in the Basque region, we find the wine called Txakoli (sometimes called Txakolina). Pronounced “sha-ko-LEE,” it’s made from a local grape called Hondurrabi Zuri and is light, fresh, citrusy, dry … and with razor sharp acidity that makes it a fantastic partner with local seafood and tapas. Ameztoi Gertariako is a good Spanish white wine producer to check out.
The Penedѐs region, best known for the oceans of delicious Cava it sends to the world, also produces still Spanish whites, sometimes from international varieties like Chardonnay , and often from the same grapes used for Cava. These include Parellada, Xarel-lo and Macabeo. Avaline produces a fine example of Penedes white. Finally, we visit the Rioja region. While it is historically and internationally famous for its reds, Rioja also produces fine Spanish white wines. These are usually based on Viura (the local name for Macabeo) and make good everyday sippers, although some aged versions can be stunningly complex. A good place to start is the white Rioja from Bodegas Muga.
As you can see, Spanish white wines offer a vast opportunity for exploration!