Pazo Torrado Albariño Rias Baixas, Galicia

Pazo Torrado Albariño 2017, D.O. Rías Baixas, Galicia, Spain. 12.5%ABV, SRP around $11/bottle.

 

 

All Rights Reserved. Copyright by Jim van Bergen, JvB UnCorked 2019.

May Not Be Duplicated Without Permission.

 

By Jim van Bergen, JvBUnCorked

Color is a translucent medium straw. The nose offers a luxurious floral aroma, hyacinth, orchid and pineapple. On the palate: tart green apple, lime zest, and lemon pith with a long, citrus finish. I am savoring this wine so wonderfully on a couple of summer days that range from hot afternoon to cool evenings, and the Albariño is so flexible it seems it could work with six feet of snow on the ground and subzero temps.

 

 

Last night I tasted this while prepping dinner, and slowly sipped a portion while grilling broccoli, squash, and red meat. It was so tasty I kept enjoying it throughout dinner. Yes, this paired nicely with grilled red meat, with grilled vegetables, and then on yet another evening, with fresh red fruit and soft French cheese. The acidity and fruit are light, crisp, and cheery enough to cleanse the palate of strong flavors in a delightful arc. It is bright and fun, delightful and easy-going. With a high quality-to-price ratio, what’s not to love about Spanish Albariño from Rías Baixas?

 

All Rights Reserved. Copyright by Jim van Bergen, JvB UnCorked 2019.

May Not Be Duplicated Without Permission.

 

à votre santé!!

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Welcome Winter with Rias Baixas! Albariño from Palacio De Fefiñanes

Palacio De Fefiñanes Albariño 2016, Rias Baixas, Galicia, Spain. 13.5%ABV, Found online from  $13-22/bottle. 

 

In the last two years, I’ve been enjoying (er, drinking) more and more albariño. But I’ve been opening those bottles during the warm seasons, and thinking about the heat of Spain. It was not until I tasted several wines from Rias Baixas while experiencing cold weather at #WBC17 in Santa Rosa that I was shocked into thinking how great albariño is with winter food pairings.

 

Could Albariño be your turkey or ham pairing wine for your holidays? Could you conceive this?

It actually can be. you just have to be open to the possibility!

 

 

 

Color is pale gold. The nose offers a gentle citrus blend and limestone. On the palate: white pear, white peach, pineapple, starfruit, a citrus blend. On the medium short finish: dry extract, limestone, clay and sodium.

This wine, in warm weather, I would classify as a wine perfect for shellfish or raw fish dishes. In cold weather, however, it is ready for savory. This wine can pair with pork, fowl, root vegetables, soups, cheeses, and seafood. The limestone and sodium  give a slightly different perspective to the tongue, and allow the wine to cleanse the palate, then act as an additional spice to the primary flavor- so it could even pair with spicy grilled meats. Believe it or not, it works! But don’t trust me- get a bottle and try it with some quality, dried charcuterie. That will open your eyes, and let you see the start of your expanded possibilities of the albariño from Rias Baixis in your glass.

Holiday wine? Cold weather wine? Absolutely- once you expand the possibilities of your mind for the wine in your glass.

à votre santé!