Abadía Retuerta Selección Especial 2021 comes from a historic Spanish estate in Castilla y León where wine has been produced for over eight centuries. Oenologist Ángel Anocíbar leads the team with one clear goal: to create wines that express the pure personality of the vineyards surrounding the abbey. What makes Abadía Retuerta Selección Especial so special? It's a complex, oak-aged blend of six grape varieties that together create a powerful yet elegant red wine, recognized with high international ratings.
Abadía Retuerta is located in Spain, in Castilla y León, on the famous Golden Mile of the Duero Valley. The wine is produced in the Ribera del Duero region, on an estate that, as an independent domain, has been granted its own Protected Designation of Origin: Abadía Retuerta DOP. The vineyards surrounding the abbey benefit from warm summer days, cool nights, and a varied soil, including stony and chalky layers, resulting in concentrated grapes with crisp acidity. By working plot by plot, the winemaking team can select grapes with the precise ripeness and structure required for the final Selección Especial blend.
Selección Especial is conceived as a harmonious blend of Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Graciano, and Petit Verdot. After fermentation, the wine is aged for 12 months in both French and American oak barrels, a combination that combines strength and spice with subtle vanilla and toasted notes. The oak aging gives the wine added structure and complexity without obscuring the fruit. With 14.5% alcohol, 14g/l residual sugar, and 5.22g/l acidity, this is a ripe, full-bodied style that still retains sufficient freshness to remain elegant.
Tempranillo – Abadía Retuerta
Tempranillo forms the backbone of the wine, providing dark red fruit, ripe tannins and the typical structure you expect from a top wine from the Duero Valley.
Cabernet Sauvignon – Abadía Retuerta
Cabernet Sauvignon adds extra depth and concentration, with notes reminiscent of cassis and blackcurrant and firm yet refined tannins.
Syrah – Abadía Retuerta
Syrah brings spice and a hint of black pepper to the blend, plus a dark color and juicy fruit impressions.
Merlot, Graciano and Petit Verdot – Abadía Retuerta
Merlot rounds out the whole with softer fruit and a smooth mouthfeel, while Graciano and Petit Verdot provide extra freshness, aromatic tension and length in the finish.
