La Val - Rias Baixas Arantei - 2023

La Val

Rias Baixas Arantei 2023

- 91 points -

The 2023 Arantei comes from the vineyard that names the wine, a selection of Albariño from the 26 hectares of 37-year-old vines planted in pergola on alluvial soils from the Miño River with clay that deliver fruit-driven and balanced wines. It has 12.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.35 and 6.9 grams of acidity. It fermented with indigenous yeasts; 10% of the wine matured in new 500-liter French oak barrels with no bâtonnage of the lees, 10% matured in used 300-liter French oak barrel with bâtonnage, and the rest was kept in tank with the lees for eight months. The oak is super subtle, and the wine is not tropical at all—it's serious, austere and just a little balsamic. 20,187 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2024.

Luis Gutiérrez, July 2024