El Bufón de Arrayán Albillo Real 2023
Member Price €22.02
This is a rare wine in Spain, let alone Ireland and the UK.
It’s from the hugely exciting and up-and-coming Cebreros wine region, made using a forgotten grape called Albillo Real.
It’s the first grape to mature in the vineyards around here, and in the past, people would have eaten it while picking the other grapes. The small berries, freckled skin and sweet taste make it especially delicious, and also for birds!
These characteristics however make Albillo Real difficult to turn into great wine, and that’s where a rising star winemaker like Maite Sánchez comes in.
She sources the grapes from three high-altitude vineyards around Cebreros, with an average vine age of 70 years, and on sandy-granite soils.
The grapes are gently crushed by foot for two days, before being transferred into clay amphora, where the wine is aged for 6-7 months. This winemaking preserves all the gorgeous fruit, like pears, orange blossom, and grapefruit.
It’s a golden, citrusy and full-bodied white with hints of honey and tropical flavours, and a distinct minerality from the granite soils in the vineyard.
It’s even better with food, and it really reminds me of a good Chenin Blanc from South Africa.
You won’t find Albillo Real anywhere else in Ireland, and we only have a tiny amount of left. So give it a try while it’s still available!
| Wine type | White |
| Grape(s) | 100% Albillo Real |
| Country | Spain |
| Region of origin | Castilla La Mancha |
| Appellation | Cebreros |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Alcohol % | 13.17 |
| Oak? | Yes |
| Months in Oak | 8 months |
| Type of Oak | 700 liters French used barrels |
| Allergens (e.g. does it contain Milk, Egg, Fish, Nuts) | None |
| Average age of vines | 75 years |
| Average altitude of vines (m) | 700m |
| Soil type(s) | Granite soil |
| Closure Type | Cork |
| Is this wine organic? | Yes, but not certified |
| Biodynamic? | No |
| Sustainably produced? | Yes |
| Suitable for vegans? | No |
| Ageing potential | 5-7 years |
| Ideal drinking window | 2024-30 |
Madrid is a wine region on the rise in Spain, and talented young winemakers like Maite are driving this revolution.
FOR IRELAND
We know how important it is to get your wine order quickly and efficiently. So we’ve partnered with UPS to offer next-day delivery on our wines.
Here’s what you need to know:
- It’s free - delivery is already included in the members' price
- It’s fast - you’ll get next-day delivery if you order before 12pm Monday-Thursday
- It’s environmentally-friendly - all of our orders are shipped carbon neutral with UPS.
€2 per case is added to all Northern Ireland orders to cover additional shipping costs. The point of sale occurs in the Republic of Ireland.
Our minimum order requirement is 6 bottles and we ship in multiples of 6’s. This can be 6 different bottles!
You may need to show your ID on delivery.
Please read our Terms & Conditions for more information.
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FOR UK
1. Order minimum & case sizes
We ship exclusively in full cases of wine. Your order must be a minimum of 6 bottles and in a multiple of 6 (for example 6, 12, 18 bottles).
2. Where we deliver
We deliver across Great Britain, with a small number of exceptions. Delivery is currently not available to the following locations:
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Channel Islands (GY, JE)
Please also note that some more remote areas take a little longer to reach. For the postcodes listed below, delivery may take 2–5 working days due to their location, and there is an additional £20 charge applied to these areas:
KA27, KA28, AB31–AB56, IV1–IV63, KW1–KW17, PH15–PH150, PA20–PA78, HS1–HS9, PH42–PH44, ZE1–ZE3, FK16–FK21,BT
3. Delivery timeframe
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Place your order by midday (12pm) Monday-Friday for next working-day delivery.
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Saturday delivery is available when you order by midday on Friday.
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If you order after midday, your delivery will fall on the next working day, and in some cases it may arrive sooner - but this is not guaranteed.
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Orders placed after 3pm on a Friday will be delivered on the following Tuesday.
4. Courier & delivery options
We use DPD Local for all deliveries with the default method as delivery to your address - handover required. You’ll receive text and/or an email notification to let you know your case has been shipped and another with your 1 hour delivery window, with both giving you the options to:
• leave in a safe place
• leave with a neighbour
• change the delivery day
• deliver to a different address
• deliver to a DPD Pickup ParcelShop
If you choose a safe place or a neighbour and the parcel is delivered to that place or person, responsibility passes to you from that point onwards.
5. Age verification
This site is for adults only. We operate a Challenge 25 age verification policy. When in doubt DPD will request valid photo ID on delivery to confirm you are 18 or over. Accepted ID includes a passport, driving licence or other recognised photographic ID.
6. Damaged goods in transit
If your case of wine is damaged during transit, we will be notified by DPD and will reorder and dispatch a replacement for you at the earliest opportunity and keep you updated throughout.
7. Returns once delivered
If you decide you need to return your order after it has been delivered, please get in touch with us and we will arrange a collection. Returns are handled on a case-by-case basis once you contact us.
8. General provisions
By placing an order you agree to these delivery terms. We may update or amend these terms from time to time - any changes will apply to orders placed after the update.