JOSE GARCIA Unculin Blanco Godello y Doña Blanca

*In transition from 2019 vintage to 2021, please contact us for more information in your area

Doña Blanca  /DON ya  BLAHnka/

Translates to "White Lady." A white Spanish and Portuguese grape varietal that is used for making white port and some table wines in Galicia and Bierzo. The grapes have thick skins, which does well in the wet maritime climate, and a high perfume content.

Godello   /go DAY yo/

A forgotten star of the ‘70s, this grape is slowly re-emerging as Spain’s alternative to Chardonnay. Believed to be related to the Verdelho grape – commonly used for Aussie blends – Godello is easy drinking and versatile. Known for showing its terroir, this wine variety is a conversation starter and something to try when your go-to whites lose their novelty.

Region Notes

Jose works 29 parcels in Valtuille de Abajo, in the heart of Bierzo and where his vines are at their youngest at 80 years and oldest at around 120 and perhaps even more excitingly, several hectares in the region of Corullon. This is exciting for two reasons; first the vines here are planted on near vertical slopes in the most amazing valley and second; he and Palacios are the only two growers to have vineyards in this commune.

Bierzo has adopted a new quality-based classification system for its wines, closely following the Burgundian structure of regional, village, and single-vineyard wines. In the Vino de Villa classification system, 100% of the grapes must come from vineyards within the village of Valtuille, and yields are more than 20% below the limit for D.O. Bierzo. Other quality-conscious regulations have been implemented that now make the Bierzo appellation a leading producer of fine wine in not only Spain but in the whole of Europe.

Vineyard Notes

Because of the orography of Valtuille, due to littles slopes, soils changes on each vineyard. There are vineyards with clay soils, but also few sandy areas and at the top of the slopes with galets. This lastest soils are very poor, which makes the plant work all the time. As a result, we have very low yields but high quality grapes.

Winemaking Notes

Unculín Blanco comes from an organically-grown, family-owned, single vineyard called Hundiñias in the center of Valtuille de Abajo; planted with 60 to 100-year-old traditional bush vines. With some vines in Valtuille over 100 years old, their vineyards provide an unspoiled genetic window to an era before modern clones were selected for higher yields. It’s one thing to produce wines naturally; it’s another thing entirely to produce naturally-made wine from old-vine vineyards like these, which are among the oldest in Europe. The viticulture is strictly organic, and the only compost used is local, organic chestnuts, which grow in the vineyards. 

After hand-harvesting in small crates and a selection process in the vineyard, the grapes are destemmed and slowly crushed in a vertical press. Each variety is vinified separately by spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts. The godello grapes macerate with the skins for 24 hours without temperature control before being pressed. Half of the godello juice was left to settle and fermented in stainless steel tanks. The other half was fermented in used 500L French oak barrels with the gross lees. The doña blanca was fermented in a used, large oval French oak foudre. No malolactic fermentation. After fermentation, the wine is blended and rests for eight months in stainless steel tanks before bottling.

Technical Notes

Age of Vineyards: 1900-1940
Soil: clay and rock
Altitude: 500 - 550 m
Village: Valtuille de Abajo
Grapes: 70% Godello / 30% Doña Blanca
Vine Age: Vineyards planted between 1920 and 1940
Soil: Clay and sandy loam with stone
Vinification: 24hr skin maceration for the godello. Spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in used 500L French oak barrels, large used French foudres, and stainless steel tanks
Aging: Eight months on the fine lees without stirring in stainless steel tanks
Farming: Practicing Organic
Vegan: Yes