Marqués De Murrieta Pazo Barrantes Albariño - 2021

A wide nuanced nose with ripe yellow plum and medlar fruit, subtle notes of bergamot and verbena underpinned by a fine balsamic background. Vibrant palate, well-balanced, fresh and textured. It shows a long and splendid finish. “A deep and full of nuances vintage that confirms the path began in 2019” María Vargas, Technical Director. 

Wine Advocate 94: The 2020 Gran Vino Albariño, the second vintage after the transformation, is a representation of their property, the eight pagos, or vineyards, they have in their 12 hectares of vineyards plus one hectare they rent. The grapes were destemmed and the must let to settle to ferment in stainless steel for 60 days, followed by two months with lees and seven months after being racked off the lees, then a small percentage was put in acacia wood barrels for a short time to search for more complexity, structure and depth. They found that acacia is a wood in harmony with Albariño, even when newer. The bottles were kept for a further 20 months before being released. It has 13.5% alcohol, a low pH (3.26) and notable acidity (7.2 grams of tartaric acid per liter of wine), and it has finesse and elegance. It's sharp, with great aromatic intensity, less explosive and balsamic than the previous year, a remarkable mid-palate and a long, clean and precise finish. 78,533 bottles and 1,596 magnums were produced. It was bottled in June 2021.

James Suckling 95: Focused, ripe, mineral and intense, with lemon rind, stones and sea salt. Very tense and integrated, with tangy, bright acidity chiseled to the round, textured palate. An exceptional, transparent yet serious albarino here. Irresistible now. Drink on release or hold.

Decanter 95: The lovely Pazo Barrantes estate has been the home of the Creixell family since the 15th century. (They also own the Castillo Ygay estate in Rioja, with its Marqués de Murrieta wines.) Its 12ha of vineyards were replanted in 1982, and the winery opened in 1991. This wine spends two months on lees; 85% is then aged in stainless steel for seven months and 15% in 225L acacia wood barrels. It spends 16 months in bottle before release. Sarah Jane Evans MW: Opulent and perfumed with golden fruit. The palate is bold and intense with ripe fruit subdued by the oak, giving richness. A complex and individual wine. Pierre Mansour: Delightful blossom fruit and floral notes on the nose. Very elegant, with incredible length and real finesse. Beth Willard: Delicate honey and floral aromas. The palate is perfectly rounded by the oak, which lends a gentle sweetness and spice. Peach and apricot on the finish with a touch of mango.

Falstaff 94: Pale golden yellow with silver reflections. Ripe yellow tropical fruit – papaya and mango – candied mandarin zest, a hint of pineapple and acacia honey. Full-bodied, with good complexity, taut and tight, racy acidity, lime notes and a salty minerality on the finish. Very precise and persistent, with lemony nuances in the aftertaste.

Wine Advocate 94+: The 2021 Gran Vino Albariño is the third vintage of this new cuvée from their 12 hectares in eight different plots (Cacheiro, Huerta, Besada, Eira, Ferradiña, Ferradura, Tomadiña and Souto) in the Valle del Salnés plus a further hectare rented from the archbishop. The destemmed grapes were pressed and the must let to settle and then fermented in stainless steel for around 30 days. The wine was kept with the lees in stainless steel for six months and then a further six months without the lees. Fifteen percent of the volume matured in acacia wood barrels. It was kept in bottle for around 20 months before being sold. It has 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.25 and seven grams of acidity (tartaric). It's pale and elegant, insinuating, perfumed, floral and subtle. It's lighter but very vibrant, and it's fresh and with volume and very tasty flavors. This could be the finest vintage to date—elegant, clean, classical and Atlantic. 105,274 numbered bottles and 1,827 magnums produced. It was bottled in July 2022. The wine is released almost two years after the harvest.

James Suckling 94: Unique, expressive and pure on the nose, with acacia, minerals and iodine. Bright and taut on the palate, with a subtle twist that goes through to the finish. Such an outstanding, gastronomic albarino. 10,000 bottles made. Drink now.

Vinous 92: The 2021 Albariño Gran Vino emerges from Rías Baixas, with 15% undergoing fermentation in acacia barrels. This yellow wine with a greenish sheen exudes a tropical bouquet of melon, lime, green apple and herbs. Dry and rich, it presents a creamy flow and a saline palate that lingers with multiple layers—truly a delightful white.