Bodegas Barahonda Heredad Candela/Petit Verdot. D.O. Yecla: French grapes have a way of slipping across borders — no passport, no papers — and setting up shop in some of Spain’s sunniest corners.
Petit Verdot is a small, thick-skinned, deeply pigmented grape variety originally from the Bordeaux region of France. Its name — meaning “little green” — alludes to its slow ripening and tendency to retain acidity even in warmer vintages. The berries are small and intensely coloured, producing wines that are deeply structured, rich in tannins, and marked by intense violet and dark fruit aromas.
Traditionally, Petit Verdot was used sparingly in Bordeaux blends — often less than 5% — to add colour, structure, and aromatic lift. It was rarely vinified on its own due to its demanding ripening profile in Bordeaux’s temperate climate. However, in warmer, sunnier regions, where the grape reaches full phenolic ripeness more reliably, it is increasingly made into 100% varietal wines — a relatively rare and adventurous undertaking.
Today, Spain, Chile, Argentina, Australia, and parts of the U.S. are exploring its potential as a single-varietal wine, and among these, Spain — particularly southeastern regions like Yecla — has emerged as a surprising but promising home for the grape.
The Yecla Denomination of Origin (DO) is located in Murcia, in southeastern Spain, nestled between Jumilla and Almansa. Despite its modest size, Yecla has a distinctive character thanks to its high-altitude plateaus (600–800 m), limestone-rich soils, and a semi-arid continental-Mediterranean climate.
With hot, dry summers and cold winters, plus significant day–night temperature variation, Yecla is ideal for developing intense colour, high phenolic concentration, and preserved acidity — perfect conditions for Petit Verdot.
Traditionally dominated by Monastrell (Mourvèdre), the region is now also cultivating international varieties like Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot, producing wines of concentration and elegance.
Bodegas Barahonda, a family-run estate with a history dating back to 1925, is one of Yecla’s leading producers. Their vineyards are dry-farmed and organically managed, enhancing the expression of terroir and concentrating fruit quality through low yields and natural stress.
While Monastrell remains central to their production — as is typical for the region — Barahonda has invested in international varieties like Petit Verdot, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Their upper-tier labels like Heredad Candela (HC), rely heavily on oak integration to enhance structure and longevity. HC undergoes 16 months of aging in American oak barrels, a critical step that shapes its personality.
American oak brings sweet spices (vanilla, cinnamon), toasted coconut, and chocolate notes, while also helping to soften Petit Verdot’s muscular tannins. The aging process integrates the wood influence without overwhelming the fruit, allowing the variety’s natural intensity to shine while rounding out its grip and adding depth.
HC is deep dense cherry-red with purple reflections. The nose is full of ripe plum and blackberry, with subtle floral notes (violet), layered over smoky toast, vanilla, and mineral undertones.
On the palate is full-bodied and structured, but surprisingly balanced. Dark fruit leads, followed by balsamic, cedar, cocoa, and a hint of leather. The tannins are firm but fine, and the finish is long, Savory, and slightly spicy.
The texture is velvety, with grip — a wine that fills the mouth but doesn’t overwhelm it. For those who love depth, structure, and a touch of the unexpected, this gem from Yecla delivers far more than its price tag.
Decant briefly before serving at 18C with grilled meats, lamb with rosemary, game dishes, and hard cheeses. It also shines with earthy stews, mushroom risottos, and rich vegetarian dishes based on lentils or aubergines.
93-95 Bruja points, EUR15.90 from Olivares in Almuñécar.
(Feature: Wine Review, Bodegas Barahonda Heredad Candela/Petit Verdot. D.O. Yecla:)
Keywords: Bodegas Barahonda, Heredad Candela/Petit Verdot. D.O. Yecla, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon
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