Bodegas Rectoral do Umia Calazul Albarino 2018
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James
Suckling
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Lemon yellow with golden reflections, clean and bright. Intense on the nose, with hints of stone fruit and apple, with mineral notes. On the palate, a well-integrated acidity is observed, obtaining a harmonious whole, freshness without edges, leaving a pleasing passage through the mouth persistent.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Given the wide array of exuberant tropical fruit, which remains in a fresh mode, this smells somewhat like a gewurtz. Green mangoes, papaya, apricots and elder flower are all in play. Medium-bodied and clear-cut on the sleek palate, this delivers plenty of bright, nectarine crunch on the finish. Drink now.
Other Vintages
2022-
Wine
Enthusiast
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Wine &
Spirits -
Wilfred
Wong -
James
Suckling -
Wine
Spectator
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James
Suckling
Bright and aromatic with distinctive floral and fruity characteristics, Albariño has enjoyed a surge in popularity and an increase in plantings over the last couple of decades. Thick skins allow it to withstand the humid conditions of its homeland, Rías Baixas, Spain, free of malady, and produce a weighty but fresh white. Somm Secret—Albariño claims dual citizenship in Spain and Portugal. Under the name Alvarinho, it thrives in Portugal’s northwestern Vinho Verde region, which predictably, borders part of Spain’s Rías Baixas.
Named after the rías, or estuarine inlets, that flow as far as 20 miles inland, Rías Baixas is an Atlantic coastal region with a cool and wet maritime climate. The entire region claims soil based on granite bedrock, but the inlets create five subregions of slightly different growing environments for its prized white grape, Albariño.
Val do Salnés on the west coast is said to be the birthplace of Albariño; it is the coolest and wettest of all of the regions. Having been named as the original subregion, today it has the most area under vine and largest number of wineries.
Ribeira do Ulla in the north and inland along the Ulla River is the newest to be included. It is actually the birthplace of the Padrón pepper!
Soutomaior is the smallest region and is tucked up in the hills at the end of the inlet called Ria de Vigo. Its soils are light and sandy over granite.
O Rosal and Condado do Tea are the farthest south in Rías Baixas and their vineyards actually cover the northern slopes of the Miño River, facing the Vinho Verde region in Portugal on its southern bank.
Albariño gives this region its fame and covers 90% of the area under vine. Caiño blanco, Treixadura and Loureira as well as occasionally Torrontés and Godello are permitted in small amounts in blends with Albariño. Red grapes are not very popular but Mencía, Espadeiro and Caiño Tinto are permitted and grown.