Winemaker Notes
Pale, green-tinged yellow. Bright and sharply focused on the nose, displaying incisive Meyer lemon, honeysuckle, quinine and mineral scents, along with a hint of ginger in the background. Dry, taut and light on its feet, offering intense, mineral-laced citrus and orchard fruit flavors that show no excess weight. Closes on a spicy note, displaying strong, floral-tinged persistenc.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2024 Leirana, which represents the character of the Salnés Valley through different vineyards and locations in a fresh and Atlantic way, is the intro to the 2024 vintage, a year with good ripeness. The wine reached 13.4% alcohol, meaning full development of aromas and flavors, while keeping notable acidity and freshness, showcased by a pH of 3.23 and 7.8 grams of acidity. The nose is harmonious and young but quite expressive of freshly cut grass, flowers and sea breeze. The destemmed grapes were pressed, then the juice was left to settle and ferment with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel (20%) and oak foudres, and then it matured for eight months. It has an intense and pungent palate with granite minerality, a fine thread of acidity going through its core and with a salty twist in the finish. Rating: 94+
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Vinous
The 2024 Albariño Leirana is from Salnés, Rías Baixas. This aged in stainless steel and foudre . It opens with linden, acacia and floral aromas, with hints of spice and peach. The palate is saline, slender and lively, with freshness and subtle complexity. This finishes with a touch of ginger cookie and a granitic texture typical of Salnés.
Bright and aromatic with distinctive floral and fruity characteristics, Albariño has enjoyed a surge in popularity and an increase in plantings over the last couple of decades. Thick skins allow it to withstand the humid conditions of its homeland, Rías Baixas, Spain, free of malady, and produce a weighty but fresh white. Somm Secret—Albariño claims dual citizenship in Spain and Portugal. Under the name Alvarinho, it thrives in Portugal’s northwestern Vinho Verde region, which predictably, borders part of Spain’s Rías Baixas.
Named after the rías, or estuarine inlets, that flow as far as 20 miles inland, Rías Baixas is an Atlantic coastal region with a cool and wet maritime climate. The entire region claims soil based on granite bedrock, but the inlets create five subregions of slightly different growing environments for its prized white grape, Albariño.
Val do Salnés on the west coast is said to be the birthplace of Albariño; it is the coolest and wettest of all of the regions. Having been named as the original subregion, today it has the most area under vine and largest number of wineries.
Ribeira do Ulla in the north and inland along the Ulla River is the newest to be included. It is actually the birthplace of the Padrón pepper!
Soutomaior is the smallest region and is tucked up in the hills at the end of the inlet called Ria de Vigo. Its soils are light and sandy over granite.
O Rosal and Condado do Tea are the farthest south in Rías Baixas and their vineyards actually cover the northern slopes of the Miño River, facing the Vinho Verde region in Portugal on its southern bank.
Albariño gives this region its fame and covers 90% of the area under vine. Caiño blanco, Treixadura and Loureira as well as occasionally Torrontés and Godello are permitted in small amounts in blends with Albariño. Red grapes are not very popular but Mencía, Espadeiro and Caiño Tinto are permitted and grown.