WTN: Terras Gauda Albariño "O Rosal" Rias Baixas 2005.

Terras Gauda Albariño "O Rosal" Rias Baixas 2005. $20 at Beekmans in Glen Rock.

The website is a lovely effort, almost as interesting as this lovely wine: http://www.terrasgauda.com/ing/terrasgauda.html . According to the maker: "Its prominent personality is the result of a combination of grape musts from the legendary ALBARIÑO variety (approximately 70%) with those of the singular LOUREIRA and CAIÑO BLANCO in the most adequate proportions."

Those most adequate proportions have created an absolutely delicious wine: Greenish yellow color, light hue, rather limited aroma, but a wonderful taste of apples, hints of citrus, herbal notes and much more, oily mouth feel, long, complex finish. Very highly recommended. 5*.

Regards, Bob

Bob this was my mystery wine posted just before the hols!! Terrific wine eh.

Sorry, Bob, I missed your mystery wine -- during my mini-hiatus I suppose.

Delicious stuff -- great choice for a mystery wine, my son.

Is it true that its not been imported for a number of years because of some battle between the maker and the importer? At least that's the story in this area.

Regards, Bob

"Wow, a wine for the seasoned wine veteran" was the tread Bob. I just bumped it up.
Sorry, did not hear about the conflict you mention. The wine is brilliant Albarino and I will be buying 2 more. $24 Cdn here.
Looking at the website, not sure about the oak-aged one however.

The wine is brilliant Albarino

To be precise, it isn't 'albariño'. No wine with less than 85% of one grape variety in its blend may be called a varietal name in the European Union. And, indeed, in Terras Gauda the strong loureiro content is very obvious - the laurel-like scent is a feature of this Galician and Portuguese grape variety.

Hi Victor, have made this mistake before!!! Any comments on their portfolio?

Thanks for catching both Bobs up on the 'albariño' point, Victor. I added it in my heading to make it easy to search -- the word doesn't appear in the labeling on the bottle, except in the text. In future I'll bracket the 'albariño' and 'loureiro' as a blend.

Happy New Year. Regards, Bob

[James Roscoe]

An Albarino blend? How cool is that? Does it pair as well with seafood as a straight Albarino? I would assume so given its origin and the purpose of wine in Europe.

They do have a 100% albariño, Abadía San Campío, but it's a much weaker and less complex wine than Terras Gauda. The barrel-fermented Black Label is basically oak soup. Albariño is not the kind of wine you want to infuse with oak aromas. There are few producers indulging in any fermentation in oak, and Terras Gauda isn't one of the leaders in that respect. If you absolutely must try a barrel fermented albariño, you may want to try Adegas Galegas' Veigadares - more subdued use of oak, more respect for fruit. BTW, this comes from southern Rías Baixas too, and as most wines in that part of the appellation, it's also a blend; in this case, 85% albariño, 10% treixadura and 5% loureiro.

Victor, I have read a lot of (conflicting) tasting notes on Tres Picos. Old vines Garnacha? Do you have any thoughts please?

If you like generously powerful and fruity Mediterranean reds at a modest price tag, this wine fits the bill.