Albariño
Wine 1:
Bodega Garzon Single Vineyard Albariño 2023 - 14% ABV
Region: Maldonado, Uruguay
Located on the Atlantic coast in northeast Spain, Rias Baixas has a humid, moderate climate, and grape vines are often trained on pergolas in order to reduce pressure from fungal infection. The grapes used to make this wine were hand-harvested from old vines originally planted in the 1970s, and the wine was aged on its lees for 12 months after having been fermented in oak barrels.
Wine 2:
La Caña Navia Albariño 2023 - 13% ABV
Region: Rias Baixas, Spain
This region is similarly cooled by the Atlantic ocean, however it is located closer to the equator, resulting in a warmer overall climate. Additionally, the grapes used to make this wine were planted on southern facing vineyards, meaning that they experienced more sunlight during the growing season. This wine was fermented and stored in concrete tanks, as opposed to oak barrels, reducing the oxidation of the fermenting liquid.
Albariño is a white grape variety, whose thick skin provides it with a natural resistance to fungal infections such as downy mildew. This resistance allows it to grow successfully in damper climates, including Rias Baixas in northeastern Spain. Wines made from Albariño typically have a high level of acidity, which provides the wine with a refreshing and vibrant mouthfeel, along with aromas and flavors of citrus and stone fruit.
Both wines presented in this blind tasting feature a bright acidity and aromas and flavors of lemon zest, grapefruit, and peach, with a salty, saline edge on the finish. The La Caña Navia Albariño was fermented in oak barrels and experienced extended aging on the lees. It is more full bodied, with a rounder, creamier mouthfeel, and light aromas and flavors of bread dough and brioche. The La Caña Navia Albariño has subtle notes of oak and vanilla from the oak barrels used during the fermentation, whereas the Bodegas Garzon Albariño has riper fruit flavors and a higher level of alcohol as a result of its warmer climate.
