This wine is so brilliant with seafood that the name almost picked itself - El Camarón is literally The Shrimp! And delicious as it is with seafood, it is really lovely on its own.
This is a juicy and fruit-forward style of Albariño - facets that many other producers seem to be losing. The wine is made with a generosity that is charming and broad, retaining freshness of acidity to allow for real engagement and a very even balance.
Citrus notes, white peach, freshness and salinity are underpinned by depth of flavours and a really engaging texture.
The balance comes from the fresh sea air of the Salnés Valley, providing the salinity and zing, and the depth of the granitic soils that gives the depth of flavour and compelling mouth-feel. The vineyards for this wines are situated on south-facing, steep slopes facing the Atlantic, and are within walking distance of the winery, ensuring the fruit gets there after harvest in perfect quality.
The wine is made using minimal intervention - gravity-fed pour overs, gentle pressing and underground fermentation (to help keep the temperature low) is followed by lees ageing for 14 days before, without fining and with only a very light filtration, it is bottled. Indeed, the winemakers are so intent on a hands-off approach, that in some vintages part of the wine goes through spontaneous malo-lactic fermentation. This can then add a further layer of complexity and richness to what is already a superb, elegant and excellent value-for-money Albariño.
The Rias Baixas region seems especially suited to the Albariño grape. It is naturally lower in acidity than many other white varieties and prone to over-ripeness; cool Atlantic breezes help it retain freshness while the Spanish sunshine ripens the grapes fully.
The sea then (sometimes) imparts a genuinely magic mineral touch which manifests itself as salinity in the grapes and resultant wines, taking them from seaside quaffing bottles to serious culinary food-partners that operate on a different level.
Region: Rias Baixas
Country: Spain
Grape(s): Albarino
Style: Vibrant, Mineral, Medium-Light, Juicy, Fruity, Fresh, Elegant, Bright
Best food matches: Tapas, Shellfish, Seafood, Scallops, Lamb, Charcuterie
Alcohol: 12.5%
