A single vineyard Albariño from Monteveiga, an inland estate in the Ribeira do Ulla that Mar de Frades farms for a deeper and more contemplative side of the variety.
Tasting Notes
Intense yellow with golden reflections. The nose is layered and expressive, leading with stone fruit and citrus, then opening into white flowers and a distinct saline nuance. Where the Salnés valley gives Albariño its bright coastal snap, Monteveiga sits further inland with a wider swing between day and night temperatures, and the wine carries a continental depth as a result. Schist soils balance the acidity, and five days of cold maceration on the lees builds a delicate, enveloping texture. The palate is broad and finely integrated, closing long and savoury with the salinity returning on the finish.
Quick Facts
- Grape: 100% Albariño
- Origin: Spain, Rías Baixas, Ribeira do Ulla (Finca Monteveiga)
- Range: Colección Paisajes Atlánticos, the producer's single site series
- Style: Dry white, single vineyard, schist soils at around 160 metres
- Winemaking: Hand harvested into flat crates, closed press for the free run must, five days of maceration on the lees at 4°C without added sulphites, fermented with native yeasts for 21 days at 16°C
- Alcohol: Around 12.8%
- Production: 4,125 numbered bottles
Food Pairing
Shellfish and grilled fish, octopus, seafood rice, sushi and sashimi, roast poultry, and fresh or lightly aged cheese.
Serving
Serve at 9 to 12°C. Give it a few minutes in the glass to open, as this is an Albariño with more to say than most.
About the Producer
Mar de Frades is one of the defining names of Rías Baixas, founded in 1987 in the Val do Salnés and known worldwide for its cobalt blue bottle. Alongside its flagship Albariño the winery runs the Colección Paisajes Atlánticos, a set of single site wines from individual plots across Galicia, made to show that the variety can be vibrant and energetic in one landscape and profound and age worthy in another.
