Bodegas Albamar O Esteiro Rias Baixas

Red blend from Rias Baixas 🇪🇸 are you sure?!? Yes I’ll get to that in a second .....70% of the wine production from the region is the beloved aromatic, saline and crisp lip smacking white varietal Albariño (which I adore). Today however todays feature wine is from Bodegas Albamar O Esteiro, Rias Baixas, Spain 2017

Rias Baixas is a rapidly growing DO in the Galicia region of northwestern Spain. It runs along the Atlantic coastline bringing Atlantic influences to the wines - think salinity and crisp acidity. Modern winemakers have brought the now hip and trendy Albariño variety to the limelight of winelovers. These wines are all well-known for their crisp, fresh, aromatic white wines, about 70% of the wine production. The cooling ocean influences help the grapes to retain the crisp, mouth-watering acidity so vital to the distinctive style of the local wines.

Bodegas Albamar is the creation of Xurxo Alba (alba del mer means next to the sea). He makes wines in a traditional way, and above all lets the power of nature speak. Rich, juicy, and an example of pure craftsmanshipHis family has been farming and making Albariño in the O Salnés sub-region of Rías Baixas for generations. It wasn't until Xurxo finished his oenology studies that the Alba family started bottling and commercializing their wines in 2006. The Alba family owns about 2.5 hectares but also sources from about 10 hectares spread throughout the region. Remaining wines are made from farms that are rented as lands are past down from generation to generation. Xurxo has incredible energy and a strong non-interventionist attitude when it comes to grape growing and winemaking - keep it natural my friend. For instance the use of only native yeasts present in the bodegas for fermentations of all wines. Albamar is has also expanded to other zones of Galicia, Valdeorras and Ribeira Sacra regions

Albamar O Esteiro Tinto 2017 is sourced from 100 year old vines small plots in O Salnes on sandy, granitic soils of the region. 20% bunches are de-stemmed and undergo spontaneous fermentation in open vessels, daily punched down and maceration on the skins for about 3 weeks. The wine then undergoes aging for 8 months in small French oak barrels. It’s a blend of Caiño 34%, Espadeiro 33% and Mencía 33%

The colour is rich and bright ruby red. Have you even been strawberry picking? That’s what this wine smells - freshly picked berries, combined with a field of fresh flowers, graphite and mint.

The taste is just so feminine and delicate - strawberry, pomegranate, rose petals, minerals, licorice, graphite, mint and saline. It has the strength of an artisan soul, fresh acidity and refined tannins

This is a very versatile wine - it has the acidity and freshness…Pair with Ibérico pork sirloin, blackened cajun chicken, grilled duck with walnut pesto or white fish soup with tomato broth.