Nanclares y Prieto 'Nanclares' Albariño 2022

Textural, saline Albariño from organically farmed old vines in Rias Baixas, by former economist Alberto Nanclares and young oenologist Silvia Prieto. In the Val do Salnes region, cooled by Atlantic winds, the pair farm six hectares of old vines, split across 20 or so small parcels. In the winery they produce small batches of a number of wines, each expressing a different aspect of the region. The wines generally rest on lees, with minimal sulphur the only addition. Nanclares y Prieto is a rarity in a region dominated by commercial producers, where conventional wisdom has been that it's too humid to farm without chemicals. In their hands, Albariño becomes a thoughtful, age-worthy wine.

The Nanclares Albariño comes from parcels closest to Alberto Nanclares' home. With an east-facing aspect, the vines are exposed to cooling winds off the Atlantic, though more protected than those vineyards closer to the coast. Only two 500L old oak barrels of the wine are produced each year. A serious Albarino, where vibrant citrus and florals are cut through with a driving acid line and bracing licks of iodine and seasalt. Pair with oysters and seafood.