Winemaker Notes
Sourced from one of the oldest, most traditional vineyards planted in Valdeorras, Avancia Godello expresses the authenticity of the history of Valdeorras and the oldest Godello clones in the world. A completely unique white wine that ages beautifully and has been recognized by Robert Parker as Spain's best Godello. Godello was almost extinct at the end of the 1980s, so it is extremely rare to find a Godello produced from a single vineyard planted in 1904.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2020 Godello Old Vines comes from the Aeiroá Vineyard (planted in the early 1900s) and Finca Porto Mourisco (planted in 1962). This white is more subtle and backward, yet has wonderful purity in its honeyed orchard, lime, and tangerine-like fruits as well as chalky mineral nuances. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it’s thrillingly textured, has a deep, layered, opulent mouthfeel, fabulous purity and precision, and a clean, dry finish. Does Godello get any better?
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Vinous
Pale gold. Intensely perfumed pear nectar and orange zest qualities on the nose; honeysuckle and mineral notes add lift. Juicy, penetrating and sharply focused on the palate, offering concentrated citrus and orchard fruit and floral flavors along with suggestions of salty minerals and bitter quinine. Deftly melds depth and vivacity and finishes extremely long and briny, with outstanding clarity and repeating florality.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Godello Old Vines comes from different plots of 60- to 80-year-old vines on schist and slate soils in the villages of O Barco and Petín. It fermented in 500- and 600-liter oak barrels where it matured for 10 months with the fine lees and bâtonnage but without malolactic. It has retained good freshness and acidity and has elegant varietal notes, very integrated oak and good volume on the palate. It finishes tasty, long and dry. Serious Godello.
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Wine Spectator
A graceful, creamy white that expands on the palate, with fruit flavors of pineapple and baked peach enriched by accents of lemon-infused pastry cream, graham cracker and pickled ginger. Medium-bodied and lively, with a lingering finish of spice and fleur de sel. Drink now
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Wine Enthusiast
A bouquet of Bartlett pear and lychee leads to flavors of tangerine, green papaya, white chocolate and Mediterranean herbs that are wrapped up in a pleasing sense of chalkiness.
Godello is native to northwest Spain and has experienced a major revival in the last 20 years. Godello wines are typically sleek and lightly creamy in texture. Barrel fermentation and lees stirring are typical in Valdeorras, Spain where the grape comes from. These winemaking techniques make the most of Godello's inherent structure and help bring out its lovely floral character. Somm Secret—DNA profiling says that Spain’s Godello is actually identical to the Portugese grape variety Gouveio, which grows throughout the Douro and Dão (where it used to mistakenly be called Verdelho).
Just to the south of Bierzo, the steeply terraced Valdeorras Spanish wine region is a respected source of both red and white wines. Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet) and Mencía are the principal red varieties while Godello and Palomino compose the majority of this region's whites.