Leirana Albariño

Leirana is a single-varietal Albariño wine which uses grapes from different towns in the Salnes valley in Galicia to produce a faithful expression of the region's character. Considered to be home to the very best Albariño, the Salnes valley is the coastal sub-region of the DO Rías Baixas appellation. A wonderful landscape where vines between 40 and 60 years old grow in granite and sandy soils close to the Atlantic.

The Forjas del Salnés winery, set up back in 2005 by Rodrigo Méndez with the help of top Bierzo winemaker Raúl Pérez, produces some of the most honest, expressive and exciting wines in the Salnes valley including the wonderful Leirana. They choose only the best grapes from the best plots, often from old vines. Organic agriculture methods are used in the vineyards and wines are aged in pre-used or large wooden barrels. Each plot is vinified separately to understand and interpret its natural character which depends on factors like the soil, location, altitude and proximity to the sea.

Leirana is fermented in a combination of stainless steel tanks (60%) and oak foudres (40%) where it is left to age for six months. In the glass, it displays a pale yellow colour with greenish glints and offers delightfully clean aromas of white and stone fruits, embellished with flowers and freshly-cut grass. Fresh and agile in the mouth, it has a degree of unctuosity and minerality with a saline sensation thanks to the Atlantic. It offers a varietal character and a splendidly acidic structure, before leaving us with an elegant and slightly bitter finish with hints of citrus fruit and a feeling of wanting another sip.

Our sommelier recommends this wine for its freshness, lively electric acidity, and minerality. A wine that captures all the essence of old Albariño vines and expresses its utmost respect for the terroir and a splendid potential for improving over time.