Martín Códax 2008 Rías Baixas Albariño

Here is a a delicious white wine for about $15. Full of lingering flavors, easy to love and perfect with cold chicken, firm cheese, seafood and sushi.

Rating: A Major, Wine On Line

Region: Rías Baixas, D.O.

Rías Baixas is located in the Northwest of Spain in the famous region of Galicia, and is dominated by the Atlantic coastline of Spain. The Albariño grape is by far the greatest grape variety in Rías Baixas. It is influenced by the maritime climate, where luxuriant slopes of lush, green mountains sweep down to meet a mist-shrouded sea- “The Wines of the Sea.”

Wine Description:

Martín Códax Albariño is a refreshing food-friendly wine, showing a pale yellow color with touches of bright gold. Albariño is an aromatic and complex wine that is rich, elegant, dry and crisp. It is full-bodied, with aromas and flavors of bright pear, passion fruit, and pineapple. The striking balance of acidity, body and aromas allows the wine to adapt to the palate, exhibiting its versatility of fresh and bright characteristics to a rounder mouth-feel as the meal evolves.

Viticulture Notes:

The 2008 growing season was very cool, and ran about one week later than usual, but weather during September was steady and encouraged full ripening of the grapes. The crop, slightly larger than 2007, was highly aromatic, with clusters in very good condition. Because the region of Rías Baixas receives an abundance of rain, the vines are grown on a “pergola system.” The system trains the vines to grow up and across six-foot high granite stakes, forming a trellis and keeping the grapes off the damp ground.

Winemaking Notes: Winemaker Katia Álvarez

The estate grown Albariño grapes were hand-picked de-stemmed, but not crushed, allowing for whole berry pressing to preserve the grape’s varietal character, crafting elegance and complexity in the finished wine. To maintain the acidity, which holds the balance of the wine, the Albariño juice was fermented in upright stainless steel tanks for three weeks at temperatures not exceeding 64°F (18°C). Around 20% of the blend underwent malolactic fermentation to increase flavor complexity without sacrificing acid freshness. Following fermentation, the wine underwent sur lie aging for four months.

Varietal Content: 100% Albariño Titratable Acidity: 0.6g/100ml

Varietal Origin: Rías Baixas pH: 3.36

Alcohol Level: 12.48% Residual Sugar: 0.36g/100ml

Spanish Table Wines, ©2008 Martín Códax USA, Hayward, CA. All rights reserved