LAST 3 Bottles!

The finest ingredients produce the finest wines. Mar de Frades Albariño comes from Rías Baixas, the most important DO in Spain’s northwestern region of Galicia. Situated directly above Portugal, Rias Baixas is a gorgeous, lush area along the Atlantic coast. Rías Baixas gained DO recognition in 1988, one year after a group of local growers founded Mar de Frades. They were intent on bringing international recognition to the then little-known albariño grape. They set about accomplishing that goal by making sure Mar de Frades expressed the full scope of albariño’s complex character. Look for the wine’s signature streaks of minerality and salinity alongside a core of citrus and stone fruit.

Varietal Composition

100% Albariño

Winemaking

Hand-picked grapes arrived in small crates to the sorting table where perfect bunches are selected. The grapes were then macerated for 10 to 20 hours, producing clean, aromatic musts. Slow and controlled fermentation transferred acidity to the wine, giving it a special liveliness.

Vintage Notes

A wet spring and mild, sunny summer led to an early but calm harvest. Yield was lower than anticipated but grapes were more concentrated than the previous year with more balanced acidity.

Tasting Notes

Lemon pale yellow color with golden hues and bright lime hints. Notes of green apples and stone fruits balanced by the aromas of white flowers. Bright sensations of lychees and other exotic fruits finishes with hints of minerality. 

Review:

Individual judges’ scores: Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW 95 Sarah Jane Evans MW 95 Pierre Mansour 95

Winemaker Paula Fandiño is a native Galician who has always worked in the region, and with white wines. She joined Mar de Frades (owned by Rioja’s Ramón Bilbao) in 2007 and works with 150 growers in the Val do Salnés area. With its distinctive blue bottle, the popular packaging has been better known than the liquid inside. However since 2009 Fandiño has been researching batonnage, barrel ageing and single vineyards, all of this informing the mainstream wine. Newest wine: a sparkling Albariño.

Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW:  Fine aromas of citrus and grass, very delicate. Fresh and so typical, this is textbook Albariño.

Sarah Jane Evans MW: Elegant, pure and salty. Aromatic and fine, with generous, juicy white fruit, lovely balance and approachability.

Pierre Mansour:  Appealingly floral, honeyed nose, white peaches. Full, very fresh, fine, salty, stony appeal. Textured finish with grapefruit lift.

95 Point Decanter