Rare Grapes of Spain

Pardevalles “Albarín Blanco”
Price: $18.99/bottle

Pardevalles Gamonal “Prieto Picudo”
Price: $23/bottle

Join us this Saturday to sample a red and white wine from the rare grapes of DO Tierra de León.

The Alonso family of Pardevalles is one of the pioneer winemakers of southern León. Their vineyards and 300 year old cellars are near the town of Valdevimbre at around 2,400 feet in elevation where the grape varieties Prieto Picudo (red) and Albarín Blanco (white) thrive.

One of Spain’s most fascinating indigenous varieties, Prieto Pecudo is highly aromatic with fleshy bright fruit and good acidity. You might compare the Pardavalles Gamonal to a Cru Beaujolais from a vintage that achieved full ripeness (and then some). While it’s a joyous wine full of bursting berries up front it shows a more serious side with the concentration and pure, lengthy finish you often find in wines twice the price.

Pardevalle’s seven acres of Albarín Blanco were planted in 2004 for the purpose of recovering this indigenous grape which was on the edge of extinction. But the wine is far more than a rescue mission for an obscure variety. The Albarín Blanco is an exuberant wine brimming with tropical fruits and a clean, citric finish. Drinking a bottle will instantly transport you somewhere with palm trees and beachside cafés.

- - -
Posted on 2015.02.04 in Saturday Sips Wines, Spain DO, Tierra de Leon