Albarino O Raio da Vella Mendez 2020

Albarino O Raio da Vella Mendez, natural wine, aged in oak, rich and textural, opulent aromas and textures for an Albarino.  The O Raio da Vella vineyard is planted next to the Atlantic in the municipality of Castrelo de Mino in Pontevedra. The 1.5 hectare estate is planted half to Albariño and the other half to indigenous red varieties.  This exceptional vineyard site, not far from the Atlantic was selected by master Albarino wine maker Rodrigo Mendez for its exceptional aromatics and textural elements.  The wine has an intensity and depth of flavour and texture rarely found in Albarino, still distinctively fresh and tropical but with layers of confectioners cream alongside, simply delicious.

A stone’s throw away from the Atlantic ocean located in Val do Salnés in the north of Rias Baixas, this bodega is owned by the Méndez family.

The soil in his vineyards is granitic sand, covered with a layer of humus, over granite bedrock. It is very poor, fast draining soil that vines struggle in and phylloxera cannot live in, hence many of the vineyards are deceptively old, up to 200 years! Even his joven Albariño comes from vines with an average age of 40 years. The recovery of century-old vineyards of indigenous red varieties, such as Caíño, Espadeiro and Loureiro, in addition to the white Albariño from old vineyards, are the base of their wines and a clear reflection of the terroir: wines full of freshness, with a perfect minerality and ample sensations.