Rafael Palacios Louro Godello 2025

Rafael Palacios is the leading name for Godello in DO Valdeorras, in eastern Galicia. Louro is a blend of Godello with a small share of Treixadura from small plots on steep, deep granite terraces in the Bibei valley. The granite soils give low yields but high quality fruit and lend a fine mineral quality to the wine, while the hillside sites and the cool, damp Galician climate hold acidity and detail. Fruit is sorted first in the vineyard and again on the sorting table, then the wine is fermented in 300 and 500 litre French oak and aged four months in contact with its lees. Fermentation and ageing in large format oak give a gentle oxygen exchange and a light creaminess, and the lees add texture and a subtle savoury depth, but the barrels are used to build breadth rather than obvious wood flavour, so the wine stays fresh and fruit led. The colour is pale gold. The nose is fresh, with green apple and pear against ripe stone fruit and a soft floral note. The palate is textured yet lively, with white peach, citrus and a fine mineral edge carried to a long finish. Serve chilled at 10 to 12 degrees. It suits richer fish and poultry.