IAN & SPAIN

The summer is practically here and so is the season for crisp, chilled white wines! The wine I am going to share with you today is a wonderfully fresh and balanced Albariño from Rias Baixas – the heartland of this increasingly popular grape variety in the north west of Spain.  

Albariño is by far my  favourite grape variety for whites,  it just has everything I look for in a white. However there is a difference from one winery to the next and the wine in question today is VAL DO SOSEGO produced by AS LAXAS  Winery in Arbo, Pontevedra. I discovered it several years back in Carrefour when I was looking for a new 'white' to accompany a lobster rice I was going to prepare for some friends who were coming to visit. I still remember when I took the first sip, it was one of those " wow this is good!" moments and since then it is amongst my top Spanish whites. 

It is relatively light at 12.5% abv, with just the right balance of fruit, aromatics and minerality. It's crisp, lemony aromas are as pure as a sea breeze. The palate is just as pure and fresh, with ripe apple, citrus, pineapple and stone fruit flavors all mixing well. It is an elegant wine with just the right finishing weight and length. It was the best 'new' white wine I had tasted for a long time, after experimenting with many others.

The As Laxas Winery has been producing wines since 1862. At the time the property had roughly a hectare of traditionally grown vineyard and what began as a complementary activity to the family economy became over the years a company in itself. The company is still true to the vision of the family who, from the beginning, was enthusiastic in obtaining a premium quality white wine. Nowadays, the company is property of the founders’ four sons  and has around 50 hectares. 

WINE DATA:

Price: €7,80 ( Carrefour)
Grape variety: Albariño 
Appellation: Rias Baixas 
Alcohol: 12.5%

Best served cold : +/- 8ºC

If you can't find it in Carrefour you can buy a case of 6 (€44,90) direct from the winery:

http://www.laxasshop.com/productos/desplegar/familia=4/val-do-sosego.html