The grapes for this wine come from three different estate vineyards and from contracted fruit grown in the Val do Salnes sub-region of Rias Baixas. Cool maceration with skins overnight at low temperature and then only moderate pressure is used to obtain the more aromatic portion of the must. Fermented in stainless steel vats with temperature control. Bottled in March 2008.
94pts Wine Review Online– 2019 vintage
This producer’s entry-level bottling of Albariño, “Mar de Viñas,” is so good that it prompts the question: How could this fruit have failed to make the cut for the top wine of the house? If you taste “Mar de Viñas,” you’ll understand immediately why that’s a compelling question, and if you taste this right afterward, you’ll get a compelling answer. Broader, richer, deeper and even more persistent, but with excellent focus despite its relative opulence, this is flat-out great Albariño. It displays subtle but expressive aromas that become ever more detailed as the wine warms in the glass, and the palate performance is every bit as impressive, with perfectly ripened fruit and excellent acidity and minerality that’s impeccably interlaced with the fruit. A completely convincing rendition of Albariño, which is arguably the world’s best and most versatile vinous partner for seafood.
91pts View from the Cellar– 2019 vintage
The 2019 “Esencia Diviña” from Adegas Gran Vinum had also just landed in the US prior to the release of this article, so it was quite enjoyable to compare it to the 2018, which I covered in the last issue. Like the 2019 Nessa bottling, this is still a young and exuberant example of Albariño, but with plenty of undertow of complexity to come with a few more months in bottle. The bouquet is floral and beautifully ripe and precise, jumping from the glass in a mix of pear, lime, a touch of wild fennel, a good base of soil and a potpourri of white flowers in the upper register. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, crisp and focused, with an excellent core, good backend mineral drive, snappy acids and impressive length and grip on the nascently complex finish. Tasting this right on the heels of the very good 2019 Nessa just further underscores how the texture here under natural cork is superior to screwcap, as there is more roundness, while not sacrificing any of the cut and grip. This is lovely Albariño and an outstanding value! 2020-2030+.
91pts Washington Wine Blog– 2019 vintage
The nose screams salty terroir as loads of melon, saline drenched peaches and shades of Marcona almond all enter the fray aromatically. The palate has sterling tension and gobs of mouth-watering acidity that really meld nicely with the gooseberry, kiwi and salted melon tones. Drink 2020-2024.
