Do Ferreiro - Cepas Vellas 2021

In Spain, there are few white wines that elicit such excitement, reverence and desire as the Cepas Vellas Albariño from Do Ferreiro. This legendary Spanish wine is made from some of the oldest vines I know: a small 1.5-hectare plot of Albariño planted in 1785 that contains vines that are well over 200 years-old!!! Without question, this is Spain’s most enticing white wine, the apex expression of the country’s signature varietal and a wine that will age gracefully for a decade or more.

Do Ferreiro is the reference producer for Albariño in Rías Baixas. Gerardo Mendez, his son Manuel, and daughter Encarna, meticulously farm over 175 tiny plots of Albariño by hand, scattered throughout the Val do Salnés subzone. Gerardo is a pioneer of the region, one of the first producers to craft a meaningful, terroir-driven wine from a grape that was often viewed as the equivalent of local vegetables: at the time, even octopus was held in higher regard than Albariño. The Mendez family’s tireless work has made Albariño Spain’s most famous white wine.

Do Ferreiro’s Cepas Vellas is the ultimate representation of Albariño. Aromas of sea-spray, citrus, fennel, crushed seashells and white flowers explode from the glass. The palate is richly concentrated, nervy and tense with focused, crystalline acidity and a long, vibrant, energetic finish. Cepas Vellas is a quintessential wine — one of the world’s greats — that belongs in the cellar alongside Grand Cru Burgundy, Grosses Gewächs Riesling and any other world-class white. A classic not to be missed.