Pazo Barrantes Gran Vino Albariño
Rías Baixas, Spain
Vintage:2020 (Past)
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Reviews
Wine Enthusiast 93 Points
“Aromas of mango, lemon zest and orange blossom waft from the glass. Striking pineapple and grapefruit flavors are joined by touches of vanilla and almond blossom that linger into the vivid finish.”
The Wine Advocate 94 Points
“The 2020 Gran Vino Albariño, the second vintage after the transformation, is a representation of their property, the eight pagos, or vineyards, they have in their 12 hectares of vineyards plus one hectare they rent. The grapes were destemmed and the must let to settle to ferment in stainless steel for 60 days, followed by two months with lees and seven months after being racked off the lees, then a small percentage was put in acacia wood barrels for a short time to search for more complexity, structure and depth. They found that acacia is a wood in harmony with Albariño, even when newer. The bottles were kept for a further 20 months before being released. It has 13.5% alcohol, a low pH (3.26) and notable acidity (7.2 grams of tartaric acid per liter of wine), and it has finesse and elegance. It's sharp, with great aromatic intensity, less explosive and balsamic than the previous year, a remarkable mid-palate and a long, clean and precise finish. 78,533 bottles and 1,596 magnums were produced. It was bottled in June 2021.”
Decanter 95 Points
“The lovely Pazo Barrantes estate has been the home of the Creixell family since the 15th century. (They also own the Castillo Ygay estate in Rioja, with its Marqués de Murrieta wines.) Its 12ha of vineyards were replanted in 1982, and the winery opened in 1991. This wine spends two months on lees; 85% is then aged in stainless steel for seven months and 15% in 225L acacia wood barrels. It spends 16 months in bottle before release. Sarah Jane Evans MW: Opulent and perfumed with golden fruit. The palate is bold and intense with ripe fruit subdued by the oak, giving richness. A complex and individual wine. Pierre Mansour: Delightful blossom fruit and floral notes on the nose. Very elegant, with incredible length and real finesse. Beth Willard: Delicate honey and floral aromas. The palate is perfectly rounded by the oak, which lends a gentle sweetness and spice. Peach and apricot on the finish with a touch of mango.”
Wine Spectator 90 Points
“This finely meshed white presents poached apricot and melon fruit flavors that are lightly honeyed, juicy and accented by a subtle streak of salinity and hints of chopped almond, lime blossom and warm spice. Silky, with a lingering finish. Drink now through 2025.”
JamesSuckling.com 95 Points
“Focused, ripe, mineral and intense, with lemon rind, stones and sea salt. Very tense and integrated, with tangy, bright acidity chiseled to the round, textured palate. An exceptional, transparent yet serious albarino here. Irresistible now. Drink on release or hold.”
Overview
Pazo de Barrantes, a wine that captures the subtle flavor and freshness of albariño, comes from one of the largest single estates in Salnés Valley, Rías Baixas D.O. of Galicia, Spain. The wine’s true albariño character is a direct reflection of the Creixell family’s core values of quality and estate-owned vineyards, paired with a modern winemaking approach and the latest technology.
The grapes used to elaborate the wine are sourced from Pazo de Barrantes estate, with 30 acres divided into 8 different plots located around the winery. The shallow soils of the estate are granitic with sand on the surface and the average age of the vineyard is 40 years. The vines are trained high on supporting wires in the ‘parral’ trellis system (also known as Parron), as is the local tradition, to guard against mildew and rot, and to assist ripening.
Winemaking
After an exhaustive hand-picked selection, the grapes are destemmed and pressed gently and slowly in a pneumatic press. The must is decanted by flotation to ensure greater aromatic purity and then fermented at 10ºC in stainless steel tanks for approximately 60 days. After fermentation, the wine remains in contact with fine lees for two months inside the stainless steel tank.
7 months in stainless steel tanks, 15% in acacia wood barrels and 16 months in bottle.
Tasting Notes
A wide nuanced nose with ripe yellow plum and medlar fruit, subtle notes of bergamot and verbena underpinned by a fine balsamic background. Vibrant palate, well-balanced, fresh and textured. It shows a long and splendid finish.
Food Pairing
Pairs beautifully with grilled queen scallop over truffled potatoes and cavia, mille-feuille filled with smoked eel, white asparagus pudding, white shrimp with mint, marinated sardine, grapefuit jam and blood orange. The suggested serving temperature is 52ºF.
Technical Information
Varietals: 100% Albariño
Wine Alcohol: 13.5%
Bottling Date: June 2021
Soil Composition: Granitic with sand on the surface
Average Vine Age: 40 years