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B-21 Top Recommendation
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Traveling along the N-122, following the River Duero in the direction of Vega Sicilia, we reached the small town of Sardon del Duero. Just outside this town, about a mile down the road in Retuerta, the Count of Castile commissioned the construction of a series of Abbeys in the 12th century. One of the most important was the monastery of Santa María de Retuerta (Abadia de Retuerta), built in a beautiful enclave on the banks of the Duero River – of all the monasteries built during this period, Abadia de Retuerta is one of only two in existence today.
Stunning, awe-inspiring, eye-popping in every sense – just plain nuts... this place is beautiful. Restoration began on the buildings as well as the Abbey in the 1990s. The current owners are heirs to this place and they did it right. A majestic spa, a Michelin starred restaurant, a Relais & Chateaux luxury hotel, guided tours via helicopter.... Quoting Maître de Maison, Andrés Araya, "Every architectural detail has been immaculately preserved. The monks' cells are now guestrooms, the chapter house is the lounge bar, and the refectory is now a sumptuous restaurant." Friends, it's THAT amazing!
As for the vineyards, they are planted to the north-facing slopes, on the south side of the River Duero. As with their famous neighbors – Vega Sicilia – these hillside vineyards on the south side of the river gradually ascend, topping out at 2,500 feet from their base near the River of 2,100 feet elevation. Working with world-renowned winemaker Pascal Delbeck (Chateau Petrus), the team here isolated the best parcels (pagos – 54 in all), planting 510 acres to a combination of soils ranging from clay and gravel near the river to limestone mixed with boulders and stones on the upper reaches of the hillside. Mostly Tempranillo, along with varying percentages of Cabernet and Syrah gives us Retuerta's fascinating, classically unique flavor profile.
Planted in the 1990s (with Petrus' winemaker as their guide), the only major difference between the vineyards here and Vega Sicilia is vine age... the bang for the buck is unbelievable! |
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Profound and intense nose with some tapenade, black beans and cocoa powder that gives depth to the already deep blackberries. Hints of dark spices and cigar box, too. Plenty of palpable tannins evenly melt into full-bodied palate with juicy dark fruit. Brooding and long finish. Cabernet sauvignon, syrah, merlot and petit verdot. Drink or hold.
94 points, Zekun Shuai, James Suckling (Nov 2023)
The 2019 Selección Especial, cropped from a warm and dry year, is composed of 64% Tempranillo, 15% Cabernet sauvignon, 14% Syrah, 6% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot and has 14.5% alcohol, coming through as riper than the 2020 I tasted next to it. It's also darker, round and powerful, with plenty of tannins, wide and concentrated. This is from a warm year, with lower yields, and it's a very powerful wine, balsamic with notes of aromatic herbs, a little more Mediterranean. 369,610 bottles produced and bottled in 27 lots after one year in barrel.
92 points, Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate (Jan 2023)
The 2019 Selección Especial is a blend of 69% Tempranillo, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Syrah, 4% Merlot, 2% Graciano and 1% Petit Verdot from Abadía Retuerta in Castilla y León and was aged for 12 months in French and American oak barrels. Garnet-red with a purple sheen. Cedar complements plum, camphor and spice aromas on the nose. Dry and fairly fruity, the finely-grained tannins support a mild, polished mouthfeel. The 2019 is a cosmopolitan red.
92 points, Joaquín Hidalgo, Vinous (Nov 2023)
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