La Caña Albariño 2021
D.O. Rias Baixas, Spain
One of my all-time favorite whites. This wine is made from vines grown in steep hillside vineyards in the northwest corner of Spain in the Galicia region.
The grape is Albariño, a thick-skinned, high-acid green grape and I believe these to be some of the most underrated whites in the world.
The vineyards are so close to the sea that the wines take on a note of salinity that makes them incredible when paired with just about any seafood dish.
Flavors of white peach, pineapple, lemon, and a touch of sea spray bounce out of the glass.
The wine is fermented and aged on the lees, or dead yeast cells left behind by the fermentation which gives it a rich, creamy mouthfeel.
Absolutely stellar for the money.
Wine Features
Dry farmed using organic practices
Pergola-trained vines cultivated by hand’
Acidic, sandy, alluvial soils of decomposed granite
Aged ‘sur-lie’ aka on the lees for eight months with bi-weekly battonage (stirring of the lees) in both barrel and tank
From the collection by Jorge Ordóñez, the first person to export this variety
Light and fresh with classic notes of pear, nectarine, melon, honey, lemon, and chamomile
Silky texture from the lees contact yet energetic and zippy with a spicy note of ginger on the finish
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Montana is a Certified Sommelier (CMS/WSET III), wine educator, and avid home chef. Her passion is sharing her knowledge of fine wine, spirits, saké, cocktails, and cuisine with The Wine Ship community through special events and educational media.
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