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Albariño is a delicious wine, but this 97pt white is a superstar. It's from the Craixell family, owners of Rioja legendary Marqués de Murrieta and their Ygay wines. Pure Albariño, lees aged for added creaminess, "a wonderful example" (J Suckling).
Albariño is a delicious wine, but this 97pt white is a superstar. It's from the Craixell family, owners of Rioja legendary Marqués de Murrieta and their Ygay wines. Pure Albariño, lees aged for added creaminess, "a wonderful example" (J Suckling).
Tasting notes
Creamy rounded weight, ripe peach with sea breeze and mineral zip
Aroma
Herbal, floral with creamy ripe peach and a hint of sea breeze
The noble Craixell family have owned the fine Pazo Barrantes estate in the Salnés Valley, Rías Baixas, since the 15th century. It is surrounded by its 12 hectares of Albariño vines that benefit from the Atlantic ocean lying close by. It's a wet region, but come July and August, the sun shines and brings the grapes to perfect ripeness. As you'd expect of such a historic family, with Marqués de Murrieta and the iconic Ygay wines in their portfolio, their Rías Baixas wines are magnificent. Maria Vargas oversees winemaking in both regions. Gentle vinification of the handpicked grapes, followed by two months ageing on fine lees lends lovely weight and creamy complexity to the ripe peach fruit and ocean freshness of this great seafood wine.