Description
This is the first of the wines from the Belondrade winery, and one of the best white wines in Spain. A mature, elegant white wine inspired by the Burgundy whites, that has in fact surpassed all expectations when it comes to quality from the Verdejo, the indigenous grape varietal of Castile. The wine has also undergone diligent ageing in oak of the highest quality and will continue to develop most favourably in the bottle for a further seven to eight years.
Here is the Belondrade y Lurton, an excellent Crianza white wine from the DO Rueda. A single varietal Verdejo, this Spanish white wine is made from over 30-year-old vineyards located at an altitude of 750 metres above sea level. The organically grown vines grow in soils composed of sand and pebble stones that bring a distinctive freshness and complexity to the wine.
Each plot was separately harvested and vinified. First, the grapes were cold-soaked and spontaneously fermented with their own yeasts in 300-litre French oak barrels. After that, 15% of this single varietal Verdejo from Rueda underwent malolactic fermentation. Then Belondrade y Lurton 2018 was blended and aged on its lees in the barrels for 10 months with periodic stirrings. Finally, this wine of the Belondrade winery was aged for a further 6 months in the cellar prior to its release.
Tasting Notes
I can see the soft and tender character of the 2019 vintage in the wines, starting with the 2020 Quinta Apolonia. It has varietal character (despite having some 5% other grapes) and classical notes of freshly cut grass, peach, quince and straw and a super balanced palate with clean flavours with very good delineation.
