2024 Gran Vinum Esencia Divina Albarino

"Only a handful of Albariño renditions from Rías Baixas — the world’s unchallenged sweet spot for this potentially great variety — ever manage to compete for top honors with this wine. One very good reason for that is sourcing from 50-year-old vines owned by the winery. If you’ve never traveled to the region, you would have no way to know that there are very few “Estate Bottled” Albariño wines of any consequence because most plots of vines range from small to tiny, including ones grown in pots on patios or in backyard gardens. The very fine 2024 vintage shows its stuff in this bottling in the forms of lifted aromatics with the lightest floral tinge, substantial body driven along and through the finish by energetic acidity, and very pure fruit notes recalling ripe peaches and lemon curd. Its combination of freshness and substance will enable it to flatter a wide range of foods running the gamut from raw oysters to richer finfish dishes — even in a lemon crème sauce. Gulp-ably delicious but also worthy of extended contemplation."

"This pale straw-colored wine has a bouquet of nectarine and orange blossom. Vivid acidity and a soft texture offer a pleasing backdrop to apricot, honeydew melon and Turkish Delight flavors with a closing note of saline."

“Vivid, green-tinged straw. Fresh citrus and orchard fruit scents, along with chalky mineral and ginger overtones. Conveys a suave blend of concentration and energy to the juicy Meyer lemon, pear skin and honeysuckle flavors. A hint of tarragon emerges with air and lingers on the very long, lively, focused finish. All stainless steel."