Castelo do Mar Albariño 2018 (Spain) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this lovely Albariño from Spain that came to VINTAGES last Fall and returns to our shores as part of the December 12th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Castelo do Mar wines are produced by Veiga da Princesa, a winery that is part of the Pazo do Mar Group of wineries. Veiga da Princesa is located Arbo, Pontevedra, in western Spain near the Atlantic Ocean and just north of Portugal. The vineyard was first planted in 2002, plot by plot, after two years of merging more than 200 small farms which were the property of more than 70 different owners!

The Albariño vines used to produce this white wine are cultivated on trellises, giving more airy, sun-kissed and less acidic grapes than those obtained with other vine-training techniques. This cultivating method also helps avoid the use of many phytosanitary treatments (i.e. disease control) which are applied in other sub-areas of this Appellation. All of the wines are produced and bottled using modern equipment and techniques, with a clear commitment to quality.

I had the pleasure of enjoying the 2016 Castelo do Mar Albariño a couple of years ago and am sure the 2018 will be just as good, if not better, due to a vintage that was rated 'very good' with a growing season that delivered a typical profile of the Albariño grape.

Tasting Note:

CASTELO DO MAR ALBARIÑO 2018 - DO Rías Baixas, Spain (#488734) (XD) - $19.95
100% Albariño from their 18 hectare estate in Tea County. Screw cap. The fragrant nose is ripe with tropical fruit, pineapple, peach, citrus and apple aromas with touches of floral. It's medium-full bodied on the palate with a rich, honeyed concentration of fruit and flavours of citrus and apple. Acids are vibrant and zesty, while oyster shell mineral notes arrive on the back palate, adding complexity and lingering through to the long, lip-smacking finish. Enjoy over the next 2-3 years. Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines from Veiga da Princesa can be ordered via their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.