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León-Galicia
Variety
2017 El Castro de Valtuille Joven, TW: Young Red; GV: 100% Mencía
2010 El Castro de Valtuille la Cova de la Raposa, GV: Mencía (single plot, old vines)
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>>BODEGAS CASTROVENTOSA, DO EL BIERZO
Continental Climate influenced by the Atlantic (León)
Bodegas y Viñedos CastroVentosa is a winery located in Valtuille de Abajo. To talk about CastroVentosa is to talk about a region, but mostly about people whoare rooted to the land. These are people with their own style, dignified and discrete, detached from ephemeral disruptions, fashions and trends, simply in tune with the cyclical and monotonous rhythm of the seasons and the vineyard. At Castro Ventosa, life gravitates around the land, the vineyard, the grape and wine which can only be created as natural consequence of doing things right at every stage.
Variety
2017 La Clave, GV: Mencía, Garnacha
2017 Ulteia Saint Jacques, TW young red; GV Mencia,
2012/13/15 Ultreia de Valtuille, GV: Mencía; (from 1 hectar of vines, planted in 1908)
2012 La Tentacion, TW: Red; GV: Pinot Noir; Single Vinyeard in Valtuille
2017 Ultreia Godello, GV: Godello
2016 El Rapolao, GV: Mencía
2016 La Vitoriana, GV: Mencía
2016 La del Vivo, GV: Godello
2016 La Poulosa, GV: Mencía
2016 Las Goundinas, GV: Mencía
Click here to check the latest review from Robert Parker
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Atlantic Influence (Galicia)
Raúl Pérez is intensely serious about his work, but doesn’t take himself too seriously. He is deeply committed to getting it right, but entirely unafraid of failure. He believes that wine is made in the vineyard, but is undeterred from trying a multitude of strategies to find that vineyard’s voice.
As a winemaker, Raul’s mission is to capture all potential from each site he works with and he has an uncanny knack for knowing what a vineyard needs and how to treat that vineyard’s grapes once in the winery to achieve their greatest expression.
Bodegas y Viñedos Raúl Pérez produces rare, handcrafted, artisanal wines from varieties such as Albariño, Mencía, Bastardo, Prieto Picudo and Godello from the Northwestern DOs of Spain.
>>BODEGAS Y VIÑEDOS RAÚL PÉREZ, VINO DE LA TERRA DE CASTILLE Y LEÓN,
DO RIBERA SACRA, DO RIAS BAIXAS AND DO BIERZO, biodynamic
Rated Top 100 American Wineries of the Year by Wine & Spirits Winter 2011
Rated Top 100 American Wineries of the Year by Wine & Spirits 10/15/2010
Variety
2018 Guimaro Joven Blanco, GV: Godello; A: unoaked
2017 Guimaro Joven Tinto, GV: Mencía; A: unoaked
2018 Guimaro Cepas Viejas, GV: old vine Godello; A: fermented and aged on the lees for around one year in old Burgundy barrels
2017 Guimaro Camino Real, GV: Mencía; A: 12-14 months in old 225 litre French oak
2017 Guimaro Finca Meixeman, GV: old vine Mencia (1.2 ha, single plot); A: 12-14 months in old 225 litre French oak
2017 Guimaro A Ponte, GV: old vine Mencía; A: 12-14 months in old 225 litre French oak
2017 Guimaro Finca Capelinos, GV: old vine Mencia (0,6 ha, single plot); A: 12 months in old French barrique
2017 Guimaro Finca Pombeiras, GV: old vine Mencia (0,45 ha, single plot); A: 8-10 months in used 500 litre French oak barrels
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>>GUIMARO, DO RIBEIRA SACRA
Pedro Rodríguez of Guimaro was among the first producers who brought
international attention to the remote region in north-eastern Spain – Ribeira Sacra. For generations, his family had been making small volumes of wine, primarily for themselves, occasionally supplying the local cantinas. In 1991 they created the winery and began bottling their own wine, joining the newly created DO a couple of years later. The family project, was named Guimaro (meaning “rebel” in Gallego) which is also a nickname of Pedro’s grandfather. Indeed, it seems that to be able to face those unforgiving and precipitous slopes on a day to day basis, both: a rebellious and humble attitude is much needed! Simple pulley systems and almost vertical railway tracks are the only technology that is applied there.
Ever since taking over from his parents, Pedro has managed to bring the estate on to the next quality level. In early 2000 he collaborated with Raul Perez from neighbouring Bierzo, who helped him realise the potential of the old plots of vines located on the steep, south facing slopes composed mainly of granite, schist and slate. With time, the best parcels of land were identified, yields reduced, and organic methods of farming implemented.
In his effort to transmit the essence of the place, Pedro chooses to focus on the viticulture, keeping things simple in the winery. Foot treading, open top fermentation with the inclusion of raspon (stems), indigenous yeast and old oak barrels used for ageing are among the basic techniques at Guimaro.
>>FAZENDA AGRÍCOLA AGUALEVADA, DO RIBEIRO, biodynamic
NEW
In his quiet and humble way, over the last few years, Iago Garrido has been revolutionising the winemaking scene of Galicia, particularly of DO Ribeiro. Himself and his wife Lili met while studying agronomy and oenology in Ourense, where they developed a keen interest in organic viticulture, biodynamic farming and non-interventionist winemaking. In 2009 they left the city, choosing to be closer to nature and started their own vine growing project in Lugar de Rioboó – on the left bank of the Avia Valley. They have named it Augalevada, after the small river that flows through the area. In those remote, mountainous surroundings, where nature reigns in complete silence (occasionally interrupted by the local birds, cattle
and sheep), they have settled, living their biodynamic dream.
Out of 4 hectares of land they bought, 2,5 were planted with mix of native white varieties: Treixadura, Alabriño, Godello, Lado, Loureira as well as the red: Caiño, Sousón and Brancellao. The soils here are poor, made of decomposed granite and the old vineyards which were abandoned with the progress of urbanisation, rest on the ancient terraces. Iago does not settle for making average wine – on contrary, he is always searching for perfection and works tirelessly, following his intuition to achieve it. It took good few years of patient recovery work in the vineyards, as well as necessary replanting of some plots, before the first Fazenda Augalevada wine was presented to the wine loving public.
In 2013 they made two important steps: They built a new winery as well as being fully approved as biodynamic. To this day Fazenda Augalevada remains as the only winemaking project in the DO Ribeiro certified by Demeter.
For us, the wines of Iago stand out as the clear cut above what the region currently offers!
Variety
2017 Augalevada Mercenario blanco, GV: Treixadura, Albarinho, Palomino, Caino Branco, Torrontes
2017 Augalevada Mercenario red, GV: Brancellao, Caiño Longo, Ferrol
2016 Augalevada Ollos de Roque (available in September), GV: Treixadura, Albariño, Godello, Lado, Loureira
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>>RAFAEL PALACIOS, DO VALDEORRAS, biodynamic
Atlantic Influence (Galicia)
Having collaborated with some winegrowers from the area and attracted by the potential of the Godello variety, Rafael Palacios started his own project in the long-neglected vineyards of Valdeorras in 2004. The extreme topography of the soil led him to this historic region, filled with terraced sites. Historically, the vineyard’s small parcels were divided by drawing lots or “Sorte” in Galician. He works in the highest parts of Valdeorras with old vines of Godello, following biodynamic methods. Nowadays his wines are a reference for Spanish whites.
Variety
2018 Louro do Bolo biodynamic, GV: Godello; P: Fermented and aged for 5 months in French oak (Foudres). 93 Parker Points
2017 As Sortes biodynamic, GV: Godello; P: Fermented and aged for 8 months in 5hl French oak barrels, with regular lees stirring. 94 Parker Points
2016 Sorte Antiga biodynamic NEW, GV: Godello (single ungrafted vineyard planted in 1920 at 680 altitude)
P: Fermented on skins in openv oak vat. Aged for 10 months in used barrels
2016 O’Soro biodynamic, GV: Godello (single vineyard at 650-700 altitude) P: Fermented and aged for 8 months in new French oak barrels
Click here to check the latest review from Robert Parker
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>>ADEGAS CASTROBEY, DO RIAS BAIXAS
Atlantic Influence (Galicia)
Since its foundation in 1985, the winery has been constantly modernized, investing in the most advanced winemaking equipment as well as employing expert wine professionals.
Variety
2017 Señorío de Cruces, White; GV: 100% Albariño
2017 Castro Valdes, GV: Albariño
2017 Sin Palabras, GV: Albariño
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>>XURXO ALBA PADIN, ALBAMAR, ALBAMAR, DO. RIAS BAIXAS
This project started in the early 80’s, when the parents of Xurxo Alba Padin started to plant and work the family land, selling their product to the wineries in the area. Coming from a family of vine growers, Xurxo followed the family tradition of becoming a wine producer. In July 2006, after finishing studies in oenology, Xurxo , Xurxo started turning his dream into reality. Taking charge of the 3 hectare family vineyard, that has a total production of 38.000L in the Rias Baixas region, he has created ‘Albamar’. We feel this is the most exciting Albariño we have ever tasted! Power and elegance in equal measure - these mineral driven wines will open your senses to the Atlantic sea - ‘Albamar’.
Since 2012, this wine maker, is also doing his own wines in the bordering region of Ribeira Sacra. Here he produces ‘Fusco’, 100% Mencia.
He uses less than 30g of Sulphite making his wines fall into the ‘natural wines’ catagogy. Minimal intervention in the winery and indigenous yeast is also one of the secrets he can share with us.
Variety
2018 Albamar, GV: Albariño (30-40 year old from small plots); P: 30.000 bottles
2017 Finca O Pereiro, GV: Albariño, (12 year old vines planted close to the sea); P: 3.300 bottles
2017 Pepe Luis, GV: Albariño, A: 9 months in cask
2015 Albamar O Esteiro, GV: Espadeiro, Caiño, Mencía; P: 800 bottles
2017 69 Arrobas, GV: Albariño (single vineyard)
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>>BODEGAS EIDOSELA DO RIAS BAIXAS
Atlantic Influence (Galicia)
Bodegas Eidosela was formed by a group of artisan winemakers in 2003. They set out to unify a number of small, family owned vineyards where Albarino was the dominant grape variety. They offered knowledge and support to the local producers and as quality improved, they combined their production to make two wines; Arbastrum & Eidosela. Today, 45 hectares of vineyard supply the winery.
Variety
2018 Eidosela, White, GV: Albariño
2016 Arbastrum, White, GV: Treixadura/Albariño
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>>VIA ARXENTEA DO MONTERREI
Atlantic Influence (Galicia)
We keep exploring the different regions in Galicia and keep finding small artisan wineries such as Via Arxentea. We met Manuel Guerra Justo in Galicia a couple of years ago and finally we have started to import his wines to Ireland.
Manuel currently owns 3.5 acres of vineyards within the DO of Monterrei, and he brought in the well- known Enologist, Manuel Bueno, to help him. They make 1,500 cases annually of their Godello and Treixadura and 700 cases of their Mencía wine. Both wines are made from only estate bottled fruit, fermented by indigenous yeasts and harvested by hand.
It is just a pure example of artisan-made Godello from the sandy/clay soils that Moneterrei is so well known for
Variety
2017 Via Arxentea, GV: Godello/Treixadura
2017 Via Arxentea, GV: Mencia
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