Rodrigo Mendez Salvora 2023

Drink it now or cellar for 10 years. No need to decant, but bet to open it half an hour before service. Rodrigo Méndez is considered one of the greatest Galician and Spanish winemakers. He founded his winery in Meaño (Pontevedra) in 2011 as an independent project of Forja de Salnes, the family business, using ancient family vineyards, some of which are over a hundred years old. Today Mendez produces small quantities of excellent quality wines which strongly express the character of Galicia and in particular of the Rias Baixas. The Albarino grapes come from a single ungrafted vineyard, located in the municipality of Meano and planted in 1905. Fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts in large old 600-liter jars where the wine then ages for 12 months. This is exactly how Albarino was traditionally produced in the area before the 80s and the introduction of stainless steel in white vinification. Salvora is a fresh and fragrant Albarino with lively notes of citrus, pear, grapefruit, and Mediterranean herbs, with light salty hints. On the palate, it is vibrant and lean, lively and well structured. The finish is dry and long and recalls mineral notes. It is the ideal wine with white fish and shellfish.

Price: £36.14 from 8wines UK