Iria Otero Valmica de Valdeorras 2024

Iria Otero came to wine from a career in pharmacy, working at estates including Vintae and Dominio do Bibei before setting up on her own, and now makes this Godello in D.O. Valdeorras in the east of Galicia. Valdeorras sits inland along the Sil valley, with a mix of slate and granite soils and a climate that is warmer and drier than coastal Galicia but still cooled by altitude, which suits Godello's fuller, stone-fruit character while keeping its acidity intact. The grapes are grown under respectful farming and the wine is aged for four months on its lees in stainless steel tanks. Lees ageing is the key technical detail here: as the spent yeast cells break down they release compounds that add a soft, faintly creamy weight and round the mid-palate without any oak. The wine is pale gold. The nose shows white peach, pear and lemon with a light floral note and a hint of almond from the lees. The palate is medium-bodied and balanced, the fruit ripe but framed by fresh acidity, finishing clean with a subtle textural grip. Serve at 9 to 11 degrees.