Lagar De Cervera
Drink it now. No need to decant it. In 1890, 5 Basque winemakers, born in the lands of Rioja, in the north of Spain, founded the 'Sociedad Vinícola de la Rioja Alta' in Haro. From the beginning they had the ambition to produce elite wines, and at the end of the 19th century they decided to recruit a French winemaker: Alfonso Vigier. At the time, only the most prestigious estates could recruit such wine experts. For decades the oak barrels were made on site, then they ceased this activity for several years and then resumed it in 2003. The company has largely contributed to the world fame of Rioja wines. This wine is aged on the lees for several months, to give it roundness and complexity. In the glass, Lagar de Cervera Albarino shows a beautiful golden color. The nose develops a superb purity of fresh fruit centered on citrus, candied ginger and white flowers. On the palate, it is fresh, lively and crispy. The iodized and smoky notes present themselves with a well-established tropical framework.There is a nice balance and a pungent finish. This is a wonder of Spanish white wine, an absolute benchmark for the great whites of Galicia. A model of purity and aromatic expression! It works beautifully with shellfish, white meat, poultry, and vegetarian risottos.
Vino de Valdeorras
Drink now or cellar for up to 9 years. Serve chilled. Rafael Palacios is the brother of Alvaro Palacios, one of Spain’s most famous winemakers, and it is clear that he shares Alvaro’s immense talent. Rafael works his magic in Spain’s north-western corner of Valdeorras not far from the Portuguese border. Conditions here are perfectly-suited to the Godello grape with Rafael’s vines planted on steep terraces that yield tiny quantities of intensely-flavoured fruit. In total he has some 20 plots scattered across the region including some vines of up to 100 years old. As Sortes is Rafael’s flagship wine and is crafted from old Godello vines which range between 40-96 years old. The must is fermented using naturally-occurring yeasts in 500-litre French oak vats and the young wine is then kept on the lees for six months to add a creamy texture and extra complexity. The result is a precisely-balanced wine with a rich full body, smooth mouthfeel and intense stone fruit flavours with hints of toasted almonds and walnuts. Powerful yet elegant, this masterful Godello is a great partner for creamy fish or chicken dishes and can also be served with risottos, pasta carbonara or pork chops. It will also continue to age and develop over the next decade or so.
