Bendito Destino (2021)
29 February 2024
Since star sommelier-turned-winemaker Terry Kandylis released his first wines at Keeling Andrew’s portfolio tasting in 2023, fans have been eagerly anticipating the inaugural release of Bendito Destino’s single-vineyard cuvées.
Established by Terry in 2020, Bendito Destino comprises 4ha of rejuvenated centennial bush vines – mainly Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Albillo, co-planted with rare local varieties – around the village of Canalejas de Peñafiel in Ribera del Duero.
In a region that has become known for ripe, highly extracted wines, Terry pursues the complete opposite, drawing on Burgundian techniques with gentle punch downs and extractions to highlight the purity of his fruit. Harvested at night and destemmed by hand, grapes are foot trodden and fermented with wild yeasts before ageing in a variety of vessels, from concrete tanks to top-of-the-range François Frères and Taransaud barrels.
In addition to his excellent ‘village’ wines – Albillo Mayor, Clarete, and a red Field Blend – Terry crafts six site-specific cuvées in miniscule volumes of just a few hundred bottles. Combining textural harmony and weight of fruit with a wonderful sense of vitality and immediacy, they effortlessly prove their credentials as future Ribera fine wine classics.
Established by Terry in 2020, Bendito Destino comprises 4ha of rejuvenated centennial bush vines – mainly Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Albillo, co-planted with rare local varieties – around the village of Canalejas de Peñafiel in Ribera del Duero.
In a region that has become known for ripe, highly extracted wines, Terry pursues the complete opposite, drawing on Burgundian techniques with gentle punch downs and extractions to highlight the purity of his fruit. Harvested at night and destemmed by hand, grapes are foot trodden and fermented with wild yeasts before ageing in a variety of vessels, from concrete tanks to top-of-the-range François Frères and Taransaud barrels.
In addition to his excellent ‘village’ wines – Albillo Mayor, Clarete, and a red Field Blend – Terry crafts six site-specific cuvées in miniscule volumes of just a few hundred bottles. Combining textural harmony and weight of fruit with a wonderful sense of vitality and immediacy, they effortlessly prove their credentials as future Ribera fine wine classics.
Shrine to the Vine is delighted to offer these bottles to UK retail customers for the first time.
Single vineyard wines
‘Los Prados’ Albillo Blanco 2021 (£100)
0.3ha plot planted in 1910. Fermented and aged in new barrel for 16 months. Chassagne-meets-Ribera – plush yellow fruit and crackling minerality. 275 bottles produced.
‘Fuentecebolla’ 2021 (£110)
0.3ha plot planted in 1920. 60% Tempranillo, 25% Albillo, 15% Pirulés and Alarij.
Heady perfume of black cherry, earth, and spices. Pure and moreish. 600 bottles produced.
‘Piedra Mediana’ 2021 (£126)
0.2ha plot planted in 1908. 100% Garnacha (partial whole bunch). Beautiful fruit-floral aromatics – raspberry and geraniums tinged with iron. 275 bottles produced.
‘Hontanares’ 2021 (£126)
A 0.3ha plot of Tempranillo, Garnacha, Valenciano, Albillo, Pirulés, and Alarije. Dense and powerful – supple dark fruit, balsamic, violet. So elegant. 275 bottles produced.
‘El Olmar’ 2021 (£130)
4 different vineyards on a single 0.8ha slope planted 1920-1930. Tempranillo, Valenciano, Albillo, and Garnacha. Chambolle-like – seductive and silky. 550 bottles produced.
‘La Cabaña’ 2021 (£130)
Bendito Destino’s ‘Grand Cru’. 0.38ha of Tempranillo, Garnacha, Valenciano, Albillo, Alarije, and Pirulés. Exquisite smoky, spicy fruit, ultra-fine tannins. 550 bottles produced.
‘Village’ wines
Albillo Mayor 2022 (£58)
From four 100-year-old plots. Fermented in 500-litre François Frères ‘Rare’ barrels. Textural and precise – confit lemon, yellow flowers, and spices.
Clarete 2022 (£44)
Old-school rosé-clarete – a blend of seven local varieties fermented in old Hermitage barrels. Juicy red berries and saline minerality – silky and serious.
Red Field Blend 2021 (£64)
A blend of seven local varieties co-fermented with 20-30% whole bunches. Dark plummy fruit tinged with smoke and herbs. A keeper.
Please note that this offer has expired, however you can check current stocks via the search bar or shop@shrinetothevine.co.uk