Gentle-bodied, contemporary and with mouth-watering acidity, Albariño is an indigenous white grape selection from the Iberian Peninsula, fashionable worldwide for its crisp citrus, stone fruit, gentle floral flavours and saline edge.
Albariños could be ageworthy too, growing notes like preserved lemon and honey whereas gaining focus, further physique and creaminess – notably for wines aged on their lees in the course of the winemaking course of.
Primarily grown in Spain and Portugal the place it’s often known as Alvarinho, plantings of Albariño could be discovered throughout the globe – evident from current Decanter World Wine Awards outcomes with medal-winning wines coming from New Zealand, Canada, France, Moldova and Uruguay.
Scroll all the way down to see the top-scoring Albariño wines from DWWA 2022
The maritime-influenced area of Rías Baixas in northern Spain, nevertheless, is that this grape’s heartland, and noticed a overwhelming majority of Albariño wines awarded on the 2022 competitors – together with most of the highest scoring.
Eight varietal Albariño and Albariño-based wines (not together with Alvarinho outcomes) have been awarded 95+ factors at DWWA; six of those to wines from Rías Baixas. The highest scoring – Attis, Embaixador Albariño, Rías Baixas 2018 – was awarded 97 factors for its complexity, texture, brilliant acidity and beeswax and tropical fruit flavours.
On judging wines from Spain, DWWA Regional Chair Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW commented, ‘For me, as knowledgeable on this sector, this can be a great alternative to style a big selection of wines from my nation, all ranges of high quality, whereas not being influenced by the label. Taking a look at what’s there, it helps me loads to make up my thoughts on the current state of the tremendous wine business in Spain.’
Each youthful and aged examples of Albariño topped the charts on the 2022 competitors, with a 2015 classic Albariño awarded 95 factors for Quinta De Couselo’s Tradición Rosal from Rías Baixas.
Wines from neighbouring Ribeiro additionally made an look on the prime of the checklist with two Albariño blends awarded Gold medals.
To have fun Albariño Day this 1st August, beneath uncover the top-scoring Albariño and Albariño-based wines to strive from DWWA 2022, with extra to find on our outcomes web site at awards.decanter.com
Albariño Day: 10 top-scoring wines to strive
Attis, Embaixador Albariño, Rías Baixas, Spain 2018
Platinum, 97 factors
It is a lovely, creamy, layered and sophisticated wine with beautiful beeswax, apple, tropical fruit and mandarin aromatics. It’s creamy and broad within the mouth with brilliant balancing acidity. The depth of flavour is compelling. A very spectacular Albariño with energy, drive and an extended, focussed end.
Adegas Valdavia, Cuñas Davia, Ribeiro, Spain 2020
Gold, 96 factors
Contemporary and vibrant, this mix exhibits nice potential and magnificence. It has intense and concentrated stone fruit and floral scents, crisp acidity and an extended, mineral end. Splendidly salivating, energetic, and sophisticated, it’s a thirst-slaking fashion that may vanish swiftly with a chill and a few seafood tapas.
Attis, Nana Albariño, Rías Baixas, Spain 2019
Gold, 96 factors
It is a lovely, top-quality Albariño and every part about it exudes supreme class together with its ripe mango, lemon leaf, orange zest, pine resin and apricot bouquet. The palate is energetic, refreshing and textured with layers of oak and candied lemon fruit. The size and steadiness are equally of the best order.
Bodegas Eidosela, Albariño, Rías Baixas, Spain 2021
Gold, 96 factors
Spicy, herbaceous, menthol, grassy, tropical fruit, lime and ripe apple aromas. On the palate, it’s joyous with loads of fruit, a light-weight spritz, a touch of fennel and noteworthy focus. Very elegant with an extended, zesty, end. Fantastic Albariño! Crying out for meals.
Bodegas Chaves, Cinco Islas Oro, Rías Baixas, Spain 2017
Gold, 96 factors
This wine is archetypal Albariño bringing apple, peach and a few grassy and white asparagus pungency on a contemporary and vibrant glassful. It has a particular inexperienced apple core palate, some honey, a beautiful texture and zingy acidity. In a phrase, seamless, with an extended, characteristically distinctive apple pith end.
Quinta De Couselo, Tradición Rosal, Rías Baixas, Spain 2015
Gold, 95 factors
That is excessive on persona with stupendous prime notes of lemon, cream, lime and white florals. The palate is creamy with tangy preserved lemon and ripe stone fruit notes, plus a slight nudge of oak. Persistent end with a soupçon of salt. Actually nice stuff.
Lázaro Moreno Sotelo, Laudes Albariño-Godello, Ribeiro, Spain 2020
Gold, 95 factors
Ripe tinned peach and creamed coconut aromatics, which properly transfer to lime and peach on the palate with a zesty attraction and a rounded creamy inside, with some honeyed evolution including complexity. In brief, that is fairly sensible and makes you sit up and take discover on the first sip.
Maior de Mendoza, Sobre Lías Albariño, Rías Baixas, Spain 2021
Gold, 95 factors
Attractive lemon and lime fruit aromatics with an explosive contemporary palate, brilliant, concentrated and intense, with herbs and hints of menthol and eucalyptus. It’s barely grippy however tremendous refreshing with tangy acidity offering the spine. An exquisite gastronomic fashion. Startlingly good at its value; you may’t get far more than this.
Pazo de Rubianes, Albariño, Rías Baixas, Spain 2021
Silver, 94 factors
Lemongrass, citrus and herbaceous nostril. The palate is lemony, saline and mineral with somewhat spritz, good depth and glorious size. An excellent instance.
Pazo Baión, Albariño, Rías Baixas, Spain 2020
Silver, 94 factors
An outstanding instance with lovely woody, lime cordial and clementine aromatics. The palate is zingy and zesty with glorious size.
