Ribeira Sacra, Spain - 96 PARKER. 90% Bastarda and around 10% Brancellao and Caíño. It comes from vineyards between 15 and 70 years old in Ribas do Sil and on the banks of the Bibei River, on metamorphic (Gneiss) and granite soils. A very gentle and delicate vinification process is used, with whole clusters, a prolonged maceration of about 60 days in stainless steel tanks at low temperatures, and a 7-month aging period in 300 and 500-liter French oak barrels. This wine recovers its original identity: a delicate, aromatic profile, with notes of fresh red fruit, wildflowers, and a slightly spicy background. On the palate, it shows structural lightness, vibrant acidity, and fine tannins, prioritizing elegance and verticality over power. The 2023 vintage, marked by Atlantic conditions, tends to offer freshness and aromatic precision. Recommended by The Sommelier.
Fedellos do Couto began as a project to recover old vineyards in the higher, cooler areas of the Ribeira Sacra, especially in the Bibei Valley and other historically less well-known regions. From the outset, they committed to mountain viticulture, with sloping plots, diverse soils, and altitudes that favor slow ripening. Their philosophy is based on respect for old vines, minimal intervention in the winery, and a clear understanding of the landscape. They work with indigenous varieties—Mencía, Bastarda, Garnacha Tintorera, among others—seeking wines with a distinctive identity, focused more on finesse than concentration.
Fedellos do Couto's rise to recognition has been relatively rapid. In just a few years, they have gone from being an almost experimental project to becoming a benchmark within the movement to recover historical Galician varieties. Their work has contributed to the revaluation of high, cool areas of the Ribeira Sacra, demonstrating that this appellation is not homogeneous and that there are multiple micro-territories with their own unique character.
Bastarda 2023 fits perfectly within this philosophy: a varietal rescue wine, with a fresh, Atlantic expression, that celebrates the historical diversity of the Ribeira Sacra and the contemporary yet respectful approach of Fedellos do Couto.
Fedellos do Couto Bastarda 2023 is a single-varietal wine made with 90% Bastarda (Trousseau in the Jura) or Merenzao, as it is also known in the Ribeira Sacra, and around 10% Brancellao and Caíño. It comes from vineyards between 15 and 70 years old in Ribas do Sil and along the banks of the Bibei River, on metamorphic (gneiss) and granite soils. They employ a very gentle and delicate vinification process, using whole clusters, a prolonged maceration of approximately 60 days in stainless steel tanks at low temperatures, and an aging period of 7 months in 300 and 500-liter French oak barrels.
Fedellos do Couto Bastarda 2023 has a light ruby cherry color. The nose offers aromas of violets, red fruits, red currants, spices, red licorice, and Galician undergrowth. On the palate, it is light, with a velvety texture, an intense and slightly bitter aftertaste from the stems, and a long finish with excellent persistence. It is recommended to decant the wine for half an hour.
Production: 5,500 bottles. 12% ABV
Rating: 96 PARKER.
Consumption: 2026-2036.
Pairings: potato and fish stews, empanadas, octopus, stews, meat rice dishes…
