In the glass
What it pairs with
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Rodaballo a la espalda (whole grilled turbot)
Find rodaballo a la espalda (whole grilled turbot) on TableJourney →
Galicia's prized flatfish needs an aromatic Atlantic white with mineral grip: Albariño's flagship pairing on the coast. -
Foie-gras with quince
The 30-plus-month-on-lees Albariños have the texture, oxidative complexity and acid to handle foie without slipping into dessert territory. -
Tetilla cheese with quince paste
Galicia's mild raw-milk cow's cheese melts into Albariño's lemon-pith finish; the quince adds the bridge. -
Caldeirada de peixe (Galician fisherman's stew)
The saffron-and-paprika broth and mixed white fish meet a lees-aged Albariño head-on: same sea, same body, same iron mineral edge.
How to serve Do Ferreiro Cepas Vellas
Allow 35 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 30 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 10-12°C. Cellar temperature (10-12°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a medium-sized white-wine glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Rodaballo a la espalda (whole grilled turbot), Foie-gras with quince, Tetilla cheese with quince paste. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Cepas Vellas comes from a 1.5-hectare parcel of old, ungrafted vines on sandy granitic soil. The importer De Maison Selections cites vines planted in the 18th century.
- 1996 — First Cepas Vellas vintage bottled separately
Facts
- Producer
- Bodegas Gerardo Méndez / Do Ferreiro
- Grapes
- Albariño
- Classification
- DO Rías Baixas
- Oak
- Stainless steel, 12 to 18 months on fine lees
- ABV
- 13.0%
- Price
- €60-100 at retail
- Drinking window
- 10-30 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1996
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Scores
- Tim Atkin 95 (2021 vintage, reviewed 2024)
Frequently asked about Do Ferreiro Cepas Vellas
What does Do Ferreiro Cepas Vellas taste like?
Structurally full-bodied, high acidity with a long finish. From a 1.5-hectare plot of pre-phylloxera vines on sandy granite: arguably the iconic vineyard-designate Albariño of Rías Baixas.
When should I drink Do Ferreiro Cepas Vellas?
Drink 10-30 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Do Ferreiro Cepas Vellas?
Rodaballo a la espalda (whole grilled turbot) is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Foie-gras with quince and Tetilla cheese with quince paste. Galicia's prized flatfish needs an aromatic Atlantic white with mineral grip: Albariño's flagship pairing on the coast.
Is Do Ferreiro Cepas Vellas vegan?
Yes: the producer documents no animal-derived fining agents in production, so the wine is suitable for vegan and vegetarian drinkers.
What grapes are in Do Ferreiro Cepas Vellas?
The blend is Albariño. The wine is classified as DO Rías Baixas.