2024 Abadia Retuerta Le Domaine Blanco

The Abadía Retuerta Le Domaine Blanco de Guarda is a fantastic white wine from the Castilla y León region, Spain, located in the Sardon de Duero appellation. This appellation borders the Ribera del Duero and is very important to Abadía Retuerta because more grape varieties are permitted there than in the Ribera del Duero, and therefore there is also a white wine based on Sauvignon Blanc. This also explains why Abadía produces more French-oriented wines.

The 2022 Le Domaine is a remarkable, balsamic white wine with spicy notes. Despite the dry and warm weather in 2022, the wine maintains a wonderfully refreshing balance. An unusual blend for a Sardon/Ribera wine, Le Domaine 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 2024 Le Domaine is a unique white wine with excellent aging potential and a wonderful balance between power and freshness. Perfect for lovers of complex white wines who enjoy exploring new styles. Suitable for enjoying now, but also for aging well into 2030.

Abadia Retuerta Winery

Abadía Retuerta Le Domaine, the winery's full name, is a wine estate located at the gates of the Ribeira del Duero. The estate not only produces exclusive wines but is also an architectural gem in its own right, a former 12th-century abbey with a luxurious 5-star hotel and a Michelin-starred restaurant. This historic abbey is owned by the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis and was restored in 2008 under the direction of Italian architect Marco Serra. It is located in Sardón de Duero, right on the western border of the Ribeira del Duero. Several of the vineyards are therefore located outside this area. Furthermore, Abadía Retuerta is experimenting with grape varieties such as Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah, which are not permitted in the 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 primarily on producing high-end red wines, but has recently also released a white wine. This wine is a unique but highly successful blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo, Godello, Riesling, and Gewürztraminer.

Le Domaine, as the white wine is called, has enjoyed subtle oak aging and also rested on the lees for six months. The result is a slightly aromatic wine that is exceptionally smooth on the palate, accompanied by a lovely freshness and corresponding length. Abadía Retuerta also produces five red wines, including one blend and four single-vineyard red varietals: Seleccion Especial (Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah), Pago Negralada (Tempranillo), Pago Garduna (Syrah), Pago Valdebellón (Cabernet Sauvignon), and PV (Petit Verdot).

The fact that we're talking about a top-notch winery is also evident from the simple fact that Pascal Delbeck of Château Ausone has been appointed as a member of the management team, consulting with Abadia Retuerta. Another prominent figure who advises on a daily basis is Angel Anocibar Beloqui, the first Spanish doctor of oenology from the University of Bordeaux, and named Best Winemaker by the IWC in 2005. Another very noteworthy fact is that Abadia Retuerta has a superb hotel and restaurant on the estate. The restaurant recently even received a Michelin star. Read more under the heading "Winery."