Grapes of Spain

Mantel Blanco Sauvignon Blanc

"Rich for the variety, but also admirably “cut” and defined with energetic acidity, this is terrific and very well suited to spring and summer." —

Michael Franz, Editor Wine Review Online

Winery

Appellation

Rueda D.O.

Grape(s)

100% Sauvignon Blanc

Altitude/Soil

750 meters / alluvial soils composed of sand, clay and pebbles

Farming Methods

Traditional methods / Sustainable agriculture

Harvest

Machine-picked at night

Production

Gently whole cluster pressed to maximize varietal character, fermented in stainless steel tank

Aging

Aged for a few months on fine lees prior to bottling

Suggested Retail Price

$19

Wine Name

Scores

Downloads

Reviews

Mantel Blanco Sauvignon Blanc 2022

91 (WRO) 89 (VfC)

Score	Publication	Review	Copy
91	Wine Review Online	This wine always runs neck-and-neck in my estimation with the same house’s superb Verdejo, but this year I prefer the Verdejo by a nose. It shows lightly grassy and herbal aromatic topnotes, with a mix of melon and citrus fruit flavors that ride through the wine’s finish alongside fine balancing acidity. This is weightier than Sancerre, and more closely akin to Sauvignons from California in that respect, but with better freshness and lift. It shares that characteristic with most New Zealand Sauvignons, but without the tropical flavors or residual sugar that seems to creep a little higher every year in what the Kiwis are shipping to the USA. In brief, this is very successful when measured against its global counterparts, with more character for less money than the vast majority of Sauvignon Blancs. Michael Franz - August 22, 2023
89	View from the Cellar	The 2022 Mantel Blanco Sauvignon Blanc is another very tasty wine. It too is harvested at night to retain acidity and offers up a bright and varietally classical constellation of gooseberry, lime, fresh-cut grass, white soil tones and a topnote of citrus peel. On the palate the wine is full- bodied, bright and grassy, with a good core, lovely acids and grip and a long, complex and nicely balanced finish. This is grassier in personality than the Verdejo bottling, but in a good way. Quite tasty. 2023-2028. John Gilman - Issue #103 January/February 2023.

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Mantel Blanco Sauvignon Blanc 2023

92 (WRO) 92 (WE) 89 (VfC)

Score	Publication	Review	Copy
92	Wine Review Online	This superb Rueda producer never seems to hit an off-note with either Sauvignon or Verdejo, and for me, the only suspense involved in tasting each new vintage comes down to which wine will be slightly better. The race in 2023 resulted in a near tie, as the wines are equally meritorious in their different ways. Most of the Sauvignon that is planted in the region goes back to the period when temperature-controlled fermentation enabled Rueda producers to shift from Sherry-style wines to dry table wines, and frankly, this French variety went in as a bet-hedger in case Verdejo produced in that style wouldn’t sell (which is likewise mostly why French varieties were planted in the renaissance in Priorat, in Catalonia). As things turned out, Verdejo performs extremely well when rendered as a fresh, dry table wine, so examples of Sauvignon have dwindled over the past two decades. However, as this producer shows every year, Rueda produces Sauvignon that is fleshy and ripe but still varietal in character, with citrus and white melon flavors that meld very nicely with light herbal accents. This can’t match the 2023 Verdejo in terms of physical weight or the impressiveness that naturally flows from that attribute, but it is every bit as complex, and a bit more refreshing for summer enjoyment. Compared to the many ripe Sauvignons being released from California and Washington state, this is better than most costing nearly twice as much. Michael Franz Jun 11, 2024
92	Wine Enthusiast	Alvarez y Diez 2023 Mantel Blanco Sauvignon Blanc (Rueda). This pale straw-colored wine has aromas of honeydew melon and sliced ginger. Vibrant on the palate, it offers flavors of peach, apricot, sage leaf and ginger shot through with a bold vein of acidity. Grapes of Spain. Best Buy. MIke DeSimone, Issue June/ July 2024
89	View from the Cellar	The 2023 Mantel Blanco Sauvignon Blanc is another night-harvested white wine from Alvarez y Diez, and this technique has nicely kept the acidity bright and bouncy in the wine. If the estate’s Verdejo bottling is the Sancerre of Spain, the Sauvignon Blanc is more Pouilly-Fumé-like in personality, offering up a deep and complex nose of gooseberry, green apple, dam grass, salty soil tones, citrus peel and a lovely topnote of lemon blossoms. On the palate the wine is bright, focused and full-bodied, with a good core of fruit, fine soil elements, excellent balance and a long, complex and well-balanced finish that closes with a very attractive note of grassiness. 2024-2030. John Gilman; Issue 109, January – February 2024

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Mantel Blanco Sauvignon Blanc 2024

92 (WRO) 91 (VfC)

Score	Publication	Review	Copy
92	Wine Review Online	Excellent as usual in the 2024 vintage, this Sauvignon Blanc shows multiple interesting attributes beyond the “usual varietal suspects” notes. Yes, there are suggestions of cut grass and dried herbs along with citrus fruits, but there is also real richness and depth of flavor with ripe melon notes adding “bass” to the typical Sauvignon “treble.” Moreover, none of the palate weight is derived from barrel fermentation or aging (as is commonly the case in California.) Despite being relatively rich and juicy, you could still enjoy this with oysters on the half shell as you could with most Sauvignons, but it is an unusually impactful rendition that also be paired with grilled swordfish or even a roast chicken without seeming too thin for a good match. On top of all that, this avoids the pitfalls that lead some consumers to dismiss this variety out of hand: It is aromatically expressive without being pungent, and is refreshing without being too acidic or remotely “screechy.” Wine Review Online; Michael Franz; August 13, 2025.
91	View from the Cellar	The 2024 Mantel Blanco Sauvignon Blanc is every bit as fine as their Verdejo in this vintage. The bouquet hops from the glass in a classic blend of green apple, gooseberry, gentle grassiness, limepeel, white soil tones and a topnote of fruit blossoms. On the palate the wine is bright, complex and full-bodied, with good framing acids, fine depth of fruit, a lovely foundation of soil and a long, well balanced and bouncy finish. The acids here are not quite as zesty as in the Verdejo this year, which will mean it will need drinking up just a touch sooner. Good juice. 2025-2030. John Gilman, Issue 117, May– June 2025

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