Abadía Retuerta Pago Valdebellon 2021

Pago Valdebellon is a single vineyard red from Abadia Retuerta in Sardon de Duero, near Valladolid, within the estate DOP Abadia Retuerta in Castilla y Leon. It is made entirely from Cabernet Sauvignon, an unusual choice for the Duero, grown on a specific plot the estate has mapped and farmed since the 1990s. The vineyards lie between 700 and 850 metres, where the altitude brings cool nights and a long ripening season that allows the late ripening Cabernet to develop fully while keeping its acidity and savoury character. The soils are classified plot by plot according to composition, and the cooler, stonier sites give firmer, more structured fruit. The wine spent 16 months in French oak, which softens the tannin and adds cedar and spice through slow oxygen exchange. The colour is deep ruby with a dark centre. The nose shows blackcurrant, blackberry and cedar with a herbal, leafy edge typical of the grape, while the palate is full and structured, with firm tannin, dark fruit and a long, savoury finish. Decant an hour ahead and serve at 17 degrees. It suits roast beef and aged hard cheese.