Avanthia Rosé 2011

Avanthia Rosé 2011

Grape variety: Mencía

Geographical origin: D.O. Valdeorras

Producer: Bodegas Avanthia

Avanthia Rosé 2011 is a highly unusual wine. Spanish rosados are normally meant to be consumed young. In fact, only a few rare, old-fashioned examples such as Viña Tondonia are barrel-aged and made to last. Avanthia, however, is a barrel-aged Rosado in a modern style.

By this, I mean that it maintains a moreish freshness. Layers of delicious fruit are balanced with extra complexity from those barrels.

A Mencía from Valdeorras in Galicia, Avanthia offers us fresh strawberries on the nose and a hint of freshly baked sponge-cakes. The palate, meanwhile, follows through on those initial sensations with a well-integrated, crisp yet never intrusive acidity, backed up by a mineral core. All this is overlaid by a hint of creaminess and spice on the aftertaste.

This Rosado is made by Jorge Ordoñez with mainly the U.S. market in mind. I’d hazard a guess it would also be pretty popular with other nationalities – Avanthia is one of the best Spanish Rosados I’ve ever tasted.

As Sortes 2010

As Sortes 2010

Grape variety: Godello

Geographical Origin: D.O. Valdeorras

Producer: Bodegas Rafael Palacios

If Godello is fast gaining a name as a top grape for white wines and D.O. Valdeorras as a key region for growing it, so Bodegas Rafael Palacios is perhaps its most renowned exponent. As Sortes has been its flagship wine for some years now, although a new top cuvee is also coming out this year at a stratospheric level (both in terms of winemaking and price!).

As we swirl a glass of this As Sortes, there’s plenty of slightly tart stone fruit on the nose – swathes of apricots and peaches - with a citrus note sat alongside, all this accompanied by a delicate mineral overlay. On the palate, meanwhile, the 2010 vintage is only just beginning to open up for business, thus showing Godello’s ageing potential, especially in the nimble hands of Rafael Palacios. An enormous yet integrated acidity combines with an unctuous and tongue-covering texture. This is serious stuff!

A creaminess and slight toast also come though, especially in the aftertaste, a sign of the well-judged (never overpowering) oak-ageing of this wine. As Sortes 2010 is already top notch, but will definitely improve and gain in complexity over the coming 2/3 years.