Jesús Acha Blanco 2018, among Decanter’s Wines of the Year

Jesús Acha Blanco 2018 has been selected by Decanter for its Wines of the Year edition, a list that includes just 65 wines from around the world. All of them have received scores between 95 and 100 points and were chosen by the editorial team after a full year of tastings among thousands of international references.

This is not a conventional ranking or classification, but an editorial selection that recognises wines with identity, depth and the ability to move the drinker. Jesús Acha Blanco 2018 is a tribute to the father of Raúl Acha, winegrower and technical director at Vintae. A wine that honours a lifetime spent among vineyards in his hometown of Cárdenas, and that represents the pinnacle of Viñedos El Pacto project.

In the words of critic Beth Willard, Jesús Acha Blanco 2018 “recalls the great white wines of Burgundy”, although —she notes— it is “an extraordinary wine in its own right”.

It stands out for its aromatic complexity, marked by subtle reduction, its saline character, and an enveloping, broad and precise texture, supported by impeccable acidity. A deep, contemporary white wine, made primarily from Viura, complemented by small proportions of traditional local varieties.
This Decanter selection brings together wines that transcend styles and fashions; each of these wines “has a unique story to tell about place, people and passion for wine. What is in the glass matters far more than a number,” the article states.
For Richi Arambarri, founder of Viñedos El Pacto, this is “a recognition that is not celebrated as a destination, but as another step along a path defined by rigour and coherence, and by the conviction that looking to the past —to those who came before us— helps us to secure the future”.