2022 Abadia Retuerta Le Domaine Blanco

The Abadía Retuerta Le Domaine Blanco de Guarda is a fantastic white wine from the region of Castilla y León, Spain, located in the Sardon de Duero appellation. This appellation borders the Ribera del Duero and is very important for Abadia Retuerta because in this appellation more(er) grapes are allowed than in the Ribera del Duero and therefore there is also a white wine based on Sauvignon Blanc. This also explains why Abadia makes more French oriented wines.

The 2022 Le Domaine is a remarkable, balsamic white wine with spicy notes. Despite the dry and warm weather conditions in 2022, the wine maintains a wonderful refreshing balance. Le Domaine is an unusual blend for a Sardon/Ribera wine and consists of 86% Sauvignon Blanc and 14% Verdejo. This combination is reminiscent of the style of Bordeaux wines. Fermentation took place in wooden barrels, where the wine was then aged on the lees for seven months. The result is a complex, layered wine with an elegant texture.

Tasting notes:
Aromas: Balsamic and spicy notes, with hints of fresh herbs and spices.
Taste: Full, powerful and layered, with a subtle influence of the wood aging and a beautiful minerality.
Structure: Rich texture, but with enough freshness to maintain the balance.

The 2022 Le Domaine is a unique white wine with great ageing potential and a wonderful balance between power and freshness. Perfect for lovers of complex white wines who like to discover new styles. Suitable to enjoy now, but also to continue maturing until 2030.

Abadia Retuerta Winery

Abadía Retuerta Le Domaine, the full name of the winery, is a wine estate located at the gates of the Ribeira del Duero. The estate not only produces exclusive wines, but is an architectural gem in itself, an old 12th-century abbey with a luxurious 5-star hotel and a star restaurant. This historic abbey is owned by the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis and was restored in 2008 under the direction of the Italian architect Marco Serra. It is located in Sardón de Duero, right on the western border of the Ribeira del Duero. A number of the vineyards are therefore located outside this area. In addition, Abadía Retuerta experiments with grape varieties such as Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah that are not permitted in Ribeira del Duero. The wines are currently marketed under the basic appellation Vino de la Tierra Castilla Y León. However, an application for its own appellation has been submitted. The estate focuses mainly on the production of high-end red wines, but has recently also launched a white wine. This wine is a peculiar but very successful blend of sauvignon blanc, verdejo, godello, riesling and gewürztraminer.

Le Domaine, as the white wine is called, has enjoyed a subtle wood maturation and has also rested on the lees for 6 months. The result is a light aromatic wine that is particularly smooth in the mouth and is accompanied by a beautiful freshness and ditto length. In addition, Abadía Retuerta produces 5 red wines, of which one is a blend and four red single vineyard mono-varieties, respectively: Seleccion Especial (tempranillo, cabernet sauvignon and syrah), Pago Negralada (tempranillo), Pago Garduna (syrah), Pago Valdebellón (cabernet sauvignon) and PV (petit verdot).

That we are talking about a top winery is also evident from the simple fact that Pascal Delbeck from Château Ausone has been hired as a member of the management who consults Abadia Retuerta. Another great person who advises on a daily basis is Angel Anocibar Beloqui, the first Spanish Doctor in oenology at the University of Bordeaux, and in 2005 by IWC proclaimed Best Winemaker. Another very noteworthy fact is that Abadia Retuerta has a great hotel and restaurant on the estate. The restaurant recently even received a Michelin star. Read more under the heading winery.