I tasted two vintages of most wines from Abadía Retuerta, including the 2014 Pago Valdebellón, their single vineyard pure Cabernet Sauvignon. 2014 was warmer than 2013 and the grapes were picked earlier, on October 2nd, but the vinification and élevage were similar, 12 days in stainless steel and 18 months in new French barriques. This year seems to have worked quite well for the variety, and there are some minty notes here, but not lacking ripeness. The palate shows incredible energy and power, with very good freshness. It combines concentration with elegance and comes through as harmonious. This is a wine that should develop nicely in bottle. There were 24 barrels that filled 5,717 bottles, 200 magnums and 50 double magnums in May 2016.

Youthful violet. A heady bouquet displays scents of ripe cherry and cassis, incense and vanilla, and a spicy nuance adds lift. Stains the palate with concentrated dark fruit liqueur and floral pastille flavors that become more energetic as the wine opens up. Youthfully firm tannins build steadily through the impressively persistent finish, which strongly repeats the dark fruit and floral notes. All new French oak.