95 points “This is a very harmonious Albariño that has varietal character and is impressive and young without the creamy character of some previous vintages. It's vibrant and has a citrus touch on the palate that reflects a very fresh wine but at the same time it's polished and has a soft texture.” – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
94 points “Shimmering green-tinged straw. Incisive mineral-accented citrus orchard and pit fruits on the assertively perfumed nose along with hints of white flowers sea salt and buttered toast. Lush and creamy in texture but sharply focused as well offering densely packed mineral-driven pear Meyer lemon and nectarine flavours and a bracing touch of bitter quinine. Firms up on the finely detailed impressively long and sharply etched finish which emphatically repeats the citrus and mineral notes.” – Antonio Galloni’s Vinous
Burgundy meets Albariño. Rioja legends Marqués de Murrieta – producers of probably the greatest Spanish white wine ever created in Castillo Ygay White Gran Reserva Especial – also own a little-known plot of old vine Albariño in Rías Baixas. Within that estate lies the Cacheiro vineyard the jewel in the crown that has produced La Comtesse de Pazo de Barrantes since 2009. Fermented and aged in 3 000-litre oak vats for 12 months including six on the lees to add a creamy yeastiness followed by 13 months in concrete tanks it feels like Grand Cru Albariño.
Pulling the cork you’ll discover a creamy buttery complex and super serious white. Packed with exotic spices apricot frangipane tart nectarine lemon curd quince melon thyme jasmine fennel menthol green olive and creamy yeast it has a long elegant finish that seems to have been shot directly from a lemon laser. (Apologies for making up ‘lemon laser’ – sadly it doesn’t exist – but probably should for no other reason than to describe this exceptional wine.)
La Comtesse is the kind of left field choice that would work beautifully with Christmas dinner and all the trimmings but could also be paired with crayfish lobster mustard-glazed baked ham and applesauce truffled potatoes or creamy sauces. Marqués de Murrieta’s staggering Riojas owe a lot to Bordeaux but the great Chardonnays of Burgundy seem to influence their stunning Albariño estate.
SKU No.: 3766386
Style No.: 890632
Region: Rias Baixas
Grapes: Albarino
Closure: Cork
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 13.5%
Volume: 750ml
Allergens: Sulphites
95 points “This is a very harmonious Albariño that has varietal character and is impressive and young without the creamy character of some previous vintages. It's vibrant and has a citrus touch on the palate that reflects a very fresh wine but at the same time it's polished and has a soft texture.” – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
94 points “Shimmering green-tinged straw. Incisive mineral-accented citrus orchard and pit fruits on the assertively perfumed nose along with hints of white flowers sea salt and buttered toast. Lush and creamy in texture but sharply focused as well offering densely packed mineral-driven pear Meyer lemon and nectarine flavours and a bracing touch of bitter quinine. Firms up on the finely detailed impressively long and sharply etched finish which emphatically repeats the citrus and mineral notes.” – Antonio Galloni’s Vinous
Burgundy meets Albariño. Rioja legends Marqués de Murrieta – producers of probably the greatest Spanish white wine ever created in Castillo Ygay White Gran Reserva Especial – also own a little-known plot of old vine Albariño in Rías Baixas. Within that estate lies the Cacheiro vineyard the jewel in the crown that has produced La Comtesse de Pazo de Barrantes since 2009. Fermented and aged in 3 000-litre oak vats for 12 months including six on the lees to add a creamy yeastiness followed by 13 months in concrete tanks it feels like Grand Cru Albariño.
Pulling the cork you’ll discover a creamy buttery complex and super serious white. Packed with exotic spices apricot frangipane tart nectarine lemon curd quince melon thyme jasmine fennel menthol green olive and creamy yeast it has a long elegant finish that seems to have been shot directly from a lemon laser. (Apologies for making up ‘lemon laser’ – sadly it doesn’t exist – but probably should for no other reason than to describe this exceptional wine.)
La Comtesse is the kind of left field choice that would work beautifully with Christmas dinner and all the trimmings but could also be paired with crayfish lobster mustard-glazed baked ham and applesauce truffled potatoes or creamy sauces. Marqués de Murrieta’s staggering Riojas owe a lot to Bordeaux but the great Chardonnays of Burgundy seem to influence their stunning Albariño estate.
SKU No.: 3766386
Style No.: 890632