2015 Bodegas Monasterio de Corias, Albarin Blanco “Vina Grandiella” VDT Cangas, Asturias Spain.
Jaun Redondo’s Monasterio de Corias is one of my favorite wineries, I love the guy and his wines, they are pure country wines with life and style grown on steep slopes and on broken slate soils that give great mineral tones and spicy character, and while I usually go for his red no oak Joven Albarin Negro/Mencia blend, I also love this rare old vine Albarin Blanco! No relation to Albarino, Albarin Blanco is a historical local white grape from this ancient, but almost forgotten wine region in the Asturias region of Galicia, and while Albarin Blanco, also found in Leon, is sometimes referred to as Pais Blanco and maybe related to the white Mission grape, but regardless of the lost history or mystery surrounding it’s origins, here at Corias in the small area of Cangas it is a low alcohol, cool climate wine with it’s own unique persona with zesty acidity, medium body and crisp/steely detail. Mostly natural in fermentation and raised in stainless steel vats with only about 3 months on it’s lees, the Bodegas Monasterio de Corias, named after the old local Monastery that first grew grapes in the region, Vina Grandiella 2015 Albarin Blanco shines in the glass with a bright pale golden color and is wonderfully fresh on the palate with green melon, lime blossoms, apple and lemon/lime citrus flavors along with flinty spice, saline and almond paste adding complexity along with zippy acidity and light brine and herb notes. This is tasty and fun wine, worth checking out as are all of Jaun’s intriguing reds, all the wines here are meant to be enjoyed with food and quaffed young it their first couple of years, though I’ve found the reds to be fairly serious and well structured, thinking they could surprise with some age on them. Imported by Jose Pastor Selections.
($25 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive
