Wine review: Adegas Valmiñor 2006 Albariño

Source: Flickr

Source: Flickr

Rating

Best buy

Winery

Adegas Valmiñor

Vintage

2006

Grape

Albariño

Where

O Rosal, Rías Baixas, Spain

Price

$12.00

Buy at

Whole Foods

This wine is good for...
a wine tasting party
a house party
a date
weekend fun
relaxing at home

Jon says... Buy

Very nice bottle of wine. It starts with some flavors or peach and apricot, then hits you with alcohol and oak. I love trying off-the-beaten-path wines… they keep you interested and excited. This Albarino is no exception. I would love to pair this with fish or chicken with a cream sauce. Or maybe something like paella… yes, I think that this would go great with some paella.

This wine is from O Rosal in Rias Baixas, located in the Northwestern tip of Spain right above Portugal. It’s grown along the coast, which has much more moderate climate that scorching central Spain. The moderate coastal climate forces the grapes to work harder for nutrients which results in a wine with minerality in addition to the usual fruit flavors. This bottle is a great example of a balanced, flavorful Albarino. So, if you are in the mood to explore something new, give it a try.

Ted says... Buy

In the northwest corner of Spain, you can find the region Rías Baixas. Rías are, deep, wide inlets of water coming inland many miles from the Atlantic, with many beautiful vineyards situated on the corresponding countrysides’ of the inlets. The Albariño grape variety is a native grape which is grown only in this region of the world and the grape is fickle, hard to cultivate, and has low yields. But when done properly produces excellent wines!

This Albariño is delicious! On the nose I’m getting fresh grape and apple, a wonderful bouquet. This wine has crisp acidity and finishes well, with your empty glass begging for a refill. While very similar to Riesling, in terms of fruityness, this wine is dry (e.g., not sweet), so you’re picking up great fruit with a dry finish. This is going to make this wine very versatile, from starting as an aperitif, to pairing well with pastas and salads, to finish well with ice cream topped with fruit.