Valduero Blanco

When you think of Valduero, you probably picture great reds from Ribera del Duero. That’s logical. For decades, it has been building one of the appellation’s most solid stories.
That’s why this wine is such a surprise.
Because it shows that Ribera can also speak in white. And when it does so through a variety as closely tied to its landscape as Albillo Mayor, the result is unlike almost anything else.
Blanco Valduero is born at over 800 metres of altitude, on the La Yunquera and Buenos Santos estates. Vineyards more than fifteen years old, grown without irrigation and with very low yields, where each cluster is harvested by hand and selected one by one before entering the winery.
Then comes one of the keys to the wine. It ferments with native yeasts to preserve the vineyard’s character intact and remains on its lees for months, with bâtonnage, gaining volume, depth and a creamy texture that coats the palate without losing freshness.
The result is a white that changes with temperature and with time in the glass. Very cold, it shows its most vibrant side: white fruit, pineapple, grapefruit and flowers. As it opens, notes of honey appear, a delicate smoky background and a subtle minerality that lengthens the wine to the last sip.
It doesn’t try to seem light. It seeks to remain in the memory.
And perhaps that’s why it is produced in a limited edition of only 50,000 bottles.

There may still be great Valduero reds in a few months’ time. Of this white, we wouldn’t bet on it.