Winemaker Notes
Full-bodied with soft acidity, this wine is lively on the palate, with predominant flavors of ripe peaches, tangerines and orange peel, coupled with delicate earthy notes and floral undertones. A well-rounded Galician white wine, hints of mint and a soft creaminess culminate on the finish, providing a fresh, youthful and vibrant mouth feel.
At once complex and easy to drink, the estate suggests pairing this wine with seafood, cream-based dishes, dishes with rich sauces including Asian food, and meals with a combination of chicken and rice.
Blend: 70% Albariño, 23% Caíño Blanco, 7% Loureira Blanca
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
Fresh and vibrant, with aromas of limes, green apples and sea spray. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity, a chalky texture and a dry and saline finish that shows lively citrus tension.
-
Wine Spectator
An elegant white, mouthwatering and well-meshed, with ripe pineapple, apple peel, pink grapefruit sorbet and blanched almond flavors, plus delicate flourishes of lemon thyme and white pepper. Long and silky, with good drive through the mineral-laced finish. Albariño, Caiño and Loureiro. Drink now through 2030.
-
Wine Enthusiast
Ripe yet tangy watermelon notes lead the nose and carry through seamlessly on the palate. The acidity is particularly pronounced, and those seeking an especially brisk edge will likely find enjoyment.
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.