2024 Serra da Estrela Rias Baixas Albarino, Galicia

A fresh, crisp albarino with aromas of nectarines, white blossoms and a touch of sea salt. Not quite complex but authentic and vivid, with lots of peaches and a delicious saline smack at the end. Vegan. Drink now.

91 points jamessuckling.com

Serra da Estrela Rías Baixas Albariño, Galicia, is a classic Atlantic white wine that captures the freshness, energy and coastal soul of north west Spain. Rías Baixas sits along the rugged Galician coastline, where vineyards are shaped by cool temperatures, high rainfall and constant ocean breezes rolling in from the Atlantic. Albariño thrives here, trained traditionally on pergolas to keep fruit away from damp soils and encourage airflow. Serra da Estrela draws fruit from granitic and sandy soils that naturally enhance aromatic lift, salinity and tension, producing a style that is vibrant, precise and unmistakably maritime.

Pale straw in colour with green highlights, the wine opens with lifted aromas of lime zest, white peach, green apple and pear, layered with jasmine, sea spray and a subtle stony note. The palate is crisp and mouthwatering, with bright citrus and stone fruit flavours carried by lively acidity and a distinct saline edge that speaks directly of its coastal origin. There is texture through the mid palate without weight, finishing long, clean and refreshing. This is an Albariño made for the table, brilliant with oysters, prawns, grilled octopus, ceviche, mussels in white wine, or simply enjoyed chilled on a warm day. Best enjoyed young for its freshness and aromatic clarity, it will drink beautifully over the next three to five years as it gains gentle complexity while retaining its Atlantic snap.