La Val Albarino 2021

Rias Baixas, Spain

James Suckling 90 points!

La Val Albarino is a beautiful white wine gem from Galicia in the northwest of Spain. Bodegas La Val was established in 1985 and was one of the first wineries in DO of Rias Baixas which itself was only established in 1988. La Val's wines are produced solely from 100% estate grown grapes which is unusual for the area where most wineries buy from local growers. Their holdings include 130 acres (53 hectares) of vines most of which are Albariño but also Loureiro and Treixadura. These hectares are divided into three vineyards: Finca Arantei (35 hectares planted in 1989), Finca Taboexa (13 hectares planted in 1990) and Finca Porto (5 hectares planted in 2012). All the vineyards are located in the Condado do Tea sub-region. The vineyards are trained in the pergola system which, in this very humid and rainy climate, allows for better air flow and ripening. The particular micro-climate of Condado do Tea allows them to be the first winery to open the harvest, which is typically in the first half of September, and thus protects them from the vagaries of later fall rains. Arantei and Porto both have a clay and sandy loam-based soil with lots of pebbles. Taboexa has decomposed granite similar to the "saltier" wines of the Val do Salnes and is also at 350 meters in elevation whereas many of the Condado's vines are much closer to sea level. La Val's entry level Albariño is a blend of all three sites with Taboexa dominating the blend and giving this a less tropical Albariño feel and more of one reminiscent of something from further north, i.e. salty and fresh.

“Oyster shells, lemons and green apples on the nose, followed by a crisp, mineral palate with bright, fresh acidity. Not quite intense in the middle, but drinkable and zesty with a saline twist in the finish. Vegan. Drink now.”—James Suckling, 90 points!

Enjoy La Val Albarino with poached salmon, grilled chicken, shellfish and spicy Asian dishes.