Vides Singulares, Con-Sentido Albillo Real, DOP Cebreros, Spain, 2019

Producer Profile

Vides Singulares was born out of a search for purpose, to enjoy what matters, to re-connect with nature and maybe even make a difference, however in the process Raul and Maite have also managed to make some truly exceptional wines. Seeking out and rescuing indigenous varieties and vineyards abandoned due to rural depopulation; they are also managing to reinvigorate the social environment in which the vineyards are located, though a wine tourism project, bringing their concept full circle. Their labour of love started with just 2.7 hectares of old bush vine vineyard, located across several plots in Ávila, planted with predominantly pre-phylloxera Grenache, Albillo and Verdejo. Their discovery continued with 2 hectares of vineyards in the Sierra de Gredos. Their search took them to a third region, the spectacular Ribeira Sacra in the Val Do Miño where their main purpose built winery is located along with a further 4 hectares of vines. nature’s cycle and biodynamics govern their daily work and now the vineyards are beginning to more than repay the attention they’ve received.

Viticulture

Grapes come from several selected plots in located in the Alberche de Cebreros valley where the soil is mostly granitic or a silt-sandy texture, and the 50 to 70 year old bush vines are at an elevation of between 800 and 850m. The vineyards are managed naturally, without the use of herbicides.

Winemaking

Manually harvested, the grapes are 100% de-stemmed and fermented with native yeasts in 3,000 litre stainless steel tanks. There is a pre-fermentative maceration on the skins and a natural decanting for 24 hours. The wine is then removed from the fine lees on its way to resting in 3000 litre fudre and then aged for 6 months in used 400 and 650 litre French oak barrels. Bottled un-fined.

Oak Ageing

6 Months

Tasting Note

An excellent expression of Ablillo Real, this is a little balsamic, with notes of dried white flowers and almonds. It's unctuous but coupled with citrus notes, some salinity and delicate twist of bitterness to lift the finish.

Food Matching

Stuffed piquillo peppers and snapper sashimi.