Nora da Neve 2023

Nora da Neve is a single-variety Albariño from Viña Nora, in the town of As Neves in the inland Condado do Tea zone of Rías Baixas. The twenty year old vines grow on alluvial soils of granite and rounded boulders, which drain freely and lend the wine its saline, stony backbone. Albariño here produces small, thick-skinned berries and a concentrated must, so there is real weight of fruit to work with. That concentration is why the wine suits oak: the must is fermented and then aged for seven months in French oak barrels, and the slow oxygen exchange through the staves broadens the texture and softens the naturally high Atlantic acidity without masking the grape. The result is deeper gold than a stainless steel Albariño, with white peach, apricot and ripe pear on the nose over a background of vanilla and toasted grain. The palate is broad and rounded, carrying melon and citrus fruit through to a long, salty finish that keeps the wine fresh. Serve at 10 to 12 degrees in a white wine glass. It works well with grilled fish, roast chicken and richer shellfish dishes.