Following our introduction, we believe that the first thing we should do on this blog is tell you about Bodega del Abad’s hallmark: our wines. After all, this is what identifies us and what, almost certainly, has allowed you to get to know us.
Therefore, we are dedicating this post to discussing the wines of Bodega del Abad which, as you know, we craft using only the two most representative grape varieties of El Bierzo: Mencía for the reds and Godello for the whites.
Red wines
Starting with our reds, we will begin, naturally, by telling you about what we consider our “flagship”: Carracedo. Carracedo is a mature, elegant red wine with character. It is a signature wine. In it, we find a marked structure, as well as an aroma and flavor dominated by elegance and the characteristics that only barrel aging can provide. Its quality, combined with features that make it unmistakable, has earned it numerous national and international awards, most notably the 2018 Zarcillo de Oro award.
We continue this guide to our wines with another representative red from our winery: Abad Dom Bueno Mencía. This is a young red, yet it possesses a body and structure that typically do not correspond to such youth. Furthermore, it particularly stands out for its floral and fruity aromas, and on the palate, it is fresh, balanced, and complex in flavor. The grape from which it originates gains prominence both in the sensations it conveys during tasting and in its name, a tribute to this variety from El Bierzo.
Continuing our journey, it is time to talk about one of Bodega del Abad’s most internationally recognized reds. Indeed, our ADB Laderas del Norte was awarded 92 points by the prestigious critic James Suckling and obtained 90 points in the American guide Vinous. In this wine, the Mencía also develops its full potential, providing a significant fruity character that is balanced by the complex aromas acquired after twelve months of aging in French oak barrels and, subsequently, four months in concrete tanks.
We close the chapter on reds with Tesín de la Campana, a wine that takes its name and many of its characteristics from the production area where the vineyard is located. In this sense, one can appreciate notes evocative of lavender, as well as flavors typical of the El Bierzo terroir where it is found. When tasting it, we will notice fruity and spicy touches in this wine, as well as an elegant, long, and fresh finish. Its quality has earned it excellent scores, such as the 93 points awarded by James Suckling, the Parker Guide, and the Peñín Guide, the most important in the sector nationally.
White wines
As we mentioned earlier, in addition to the Mencía grape, at Bodega del Abad we cultivate and harvest Godello to produce our single-varietal white wines. Thus, the first example of this is our Abad Dom Bueno Godello, a fresh wine that is easy on the palate, providing a characteristic touch of acidity and a fruity finish.
Alongside it, we find the Abad Dom Bueno Godello Esencia, which combines the complexity provided by Godello with the body and structure resulting from the French oak aging of this unique white. This artisanally crafted wine is fresh and pleasant on the palate.
We conclude this journey through the wines of Bodega del Abad with our San Salvador Godello, a wine with 24 months of aging: 12 months of fermentation and aging on fine lees in French oak barrels and 12 more on the lees in tanks. The Godello variety provides this wine with subtle mineral aromas, as well as fresh fruit such as peach and apricot. On the palate, we find a flavorful white, with a characteristic body and structure and an intense, fruity finish.