(2023) From the superb Rioja house of Rioja Alta, an Albariño from their own vineyards that is a very careful selection of the best fruit. It has real punch and vibrancy, the nose exotic with floral, mango and lychee notes in a very perfumed style showing nectarine fruit too. In the mouth it has texture and that combination of quite luscious fruit verging on the tropical, with swaggering acidity to keep the whole picture balance with a salty hint of freshness in the finish.
(2022) How interesting to taste a 2018, which had a long lees ageing, up to two years, so an unusual interpretation of Albariño. Mealy and nutty undertones but still the ozone and seaside nature of the wine comes through. Lots of citrus and zip on the palate, loads of buoyant orange and tang of grapefruit.
(2022) From Rías Baixas,the very heart of Galicia's Albariño country, and 20-year-old vines planted at altitude. The nose is reminiscent of waxy lemon rind and crunchy apple, just a little whisper of the briney, seaside character that some of these wines express. In the mouth it is quite a ripe and forward style, mouth-filling citrus and peach, with a clean finish.
(2022) From Galicia, this is mostly Godello with 15% of the Doña blanca variety, aged 10 months in stainless steel tanks.There's a succulence here, pear and ripe yellow apple, maybe just a touch of nuttiness. The palate has a lovely rounding sweetness of fruit, with sherbet-bright acidity running beneath. Quite full and quite powerfully concentrated.
(2021) Always one of my absolute favourite Albariño wines from Rías Baixas, and a particularly aromatic example, leafy, soft dill-like herbs, sea-spray and lemon on the nose, the palate pristine but very approachable, a softness to the fruit and acidity, but clarity too, elegant to the last mouthful. Available early May 2021
(2021) The red partner to the excellent Godello in the same range, this also comes from Galicia and is made from Mencia, the traditional grape of the Bierzo denomination. Unoaked, it's a smooth and vinous style, with cherry and black vine fruits, really nice bold flavours, firm cherry acidity and a stripe of tannin give it some energy and depth, finishing tangy and lip-smacking.
(2021) I've actually been able to taste this a number of times now, as it seems to pop up regularly as a special Lidl parcel. From Galicia in the northwest of Spain, it is a wine in a crisp and fresh, dry style. There's a hint of fresh, briney ocean spray on the nose, as well as yellow plum and pear. In the mouth fine, a very light spritz adds to the fresh fruitiness, a tangy oranges and lemons acidity, and again that little hint of salinity to finish. Stylish.
(2021) Unoaked, but aged for three months on the lees, this Albariño is part of a new brand from one of Galicia's co-operative cellars. It has a very charming and bright nose, a touch of glacé pineapple and ripe pear fruit, but that yeasty quality from the lees adds interest. In the mouth loads of zinging citrus fruit, again it has the precocious brightness, lots of vitality and good balancing acidity. Deliciously sippable.
(2021) From Monterrei in Galicia, way up on the Atlantic coast of northern Spain, this was a real hit with me when I tasted it back in May 2020, and many wine-pages visitors let me know they loved it too. Seven months on, the wine is just as good: sea-spray bright, tangy, vivacious and delicious. This and the Caiz Vinho Verde are a fine pair of whites for your consideration.
(2020) Owned by Rioja's La Rioja Alta, Lagar de Cervera is one of the star names of Rías Baixas vintage after vintage. This has a really zippy, brightly-illuminated character, stone fruits but verging into tropical territory, and the preserved lemon tang of citrus and salt. In the mouth it is loveable and easy to drink, a hint of young wine spritz and a keen line of acidity giving both sipability and excellent fish and seafood-matching potential.
