Bodegas Albamar Albariño 2022

Bodegas Albamar Albariño 2022

 

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Bodegas Albamar
Albariño 2022
  • Vintage : 2022
  • Country : Spain
  • Region : Rias Baixas
  • Subregion :
  • Type : White
  • Style : Crisp Dry White
  • Format : 75cl
  • Alcohol : 12,5°
  • Grappes : 100% Albarino

The Bodegas Albamar Albariño is a classic expression of Galician Albariño, offering vibrant freshness and a pure, salty minerality that speaks to the coastal influence of Rías Baixas.

Experts Score Vintage
RP Robert Parker 92 2022
More information on wine critics and ratings

Region and Vineyards

Produced in the Rías Baixas appellation of Galicia, Spain, this Albariño embodies the coastal charm of the O Salnés sub-region. Known for its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, the region benefits from cool maritime breezes that help retain the acidity and freshness of the grapes. The vineyards, spread across 10 hectares and composed of granite and schist soils, contribute a distinct minerality to the wine. These soils, rich in sand and granitic materials, are ideal for producing Albariños with complexity, salinity, and finesse.

Bodegas Albamar sources its Albariño grapes from various small organic parcels, harvested by hand to ensure only the best fruit is selected. This patchwork of smallholdings reflects the traditional structure of Galicia’s vineyards, where organic and sustainable practices maintain the health and expression of the vines.

Winemaking

The Albamar Albariño undergoes a unique winemaking process with spontaneous fermentation in both stainless steel and neutral oak tanks. This dual approach preserves the freshness and acidity of the Albariño, while the absence of malolactic fermentation helps maintain its crisp, vibrant character.

The wine is aged sur lie for six months in stainless steel, lending it a subtle roundness without compromising its freshness. The result is a balanced and precise wine, bottled with light filtration and low sulfur to maintain its purity. The Albamar Albariño is designed to showcase the grape’s natural flavors with minimal intervention, allowing the terroir’s saline influence to shine.

Tasting Notes

  • Color: Pale yellow with greenish reflections, showing clarity and brightness.
  • Aroma: Aromas of lemon zest, green apple, and subtle white flowers, with an underlying minerality that hints at sea salt and wet stone.
  • Palate: Crisp and refreshing, with flavors of citrus, green apple, and a touch of peach. The wine’s salinity and bright acidity lead to a long, clean finish with mineral undertones.

Did you know?

Xurxo Alba, whose family has long been rooted in O Salnés, named the wine Albamar to emphasize its coastal connection. His wines embody the soul of the sea, combining traditional Galician viticulture with minimal intervention to capture Albariño’s pure expression.

Wine Pairing Ideas

  • Grilled Sardines with Lemon and Herbs: The wine’s acidity and salinity enhance the flavors of grilled sardines, balancing the richness with a zesty lift.
  • Oysters on the Half Shell: The crisp acidity and saline notes of Albariño complement the briny flavors of fresh oysters, making for a classic pairing.
  • Seafood Paella: The Albariño’s fresh acidity and subtle minerality balance the richness of a seafood paella, highlighting the seafood’s flavors without overpowering them.
  • Goat Cheese Crostini with Honey: The wine’s acidity cuts through the creaminess of the cheese, while the honey complements the Albariño’s hints of fruit.

History of Bodegas Albamar

Founded in 2006 by Xurxo Alba, Bodegas Albamar represents the Alba family’s deep roots in winemaking within the Rías Baixas region. Xurxo’s family has cultivated Albariño vines for generations in O Salnés, Rías Baixas, but it was Xurxo’s passion and oenological studies that led him to establish their own wine label. Xurxo Alba’s approach combines respect for Galician winemaking traditions with a drive to push the boundaries of quality and authenticity, showcasing Albariño’s full potential in single-vineyard and experimental bottlings.

Bodegas Albamar remains firmly rooted in Cambados, a town known as the "heart of Albariño." With vineyards next to his family’s restaurant and artisanal food shop, Xurxo’s connection to the land and sea runs deep. His work focuses on minimal intervention, relying on organic practices in the vineyard and native yeasts in the cellar. Over time, Albamar has expanded its offerings, producing Albariños and reds like Mencía that express both the freshness and complex minerality of Galicia.

Region and Vineyards

Bodegas Albamar’s vineyards are located in Rías Baixas, specifically in the sub-region of O Salnés, and some in the steep, terraced hills of Ribeira Sacra. The Rías Baixas vineyards, set on granite-rich soils near the Atlantic Ocean, benefit from cool coastal breezes, providing Albariño grapes with natural acidity, vibrant freshness, and a distinctive saline character. Meanwhile, in Ribeira Sacra, the challenging terrain of granite and schist soils on steep slopes offers ideal conditions for Mencía, producing wines with purity, finesse, and depth.

The Alba family owns around 2.5 hectares but sources additional grapes from neighboring plots in the O Salnés and Ribeira Sacra regions. All vineyards are cultivated organically, respecting both the environment and the traditional practices of Galicia.

Wine Range

Bodegas Albamar’s portfolio centers around Albariño in multiple expressions, from single-vineyard bottlings to unique cuvées that highlight specific terroirs within Rías Baixas. Wines like Alma de Mar, Pepe Luis, and Sesenta e Nove Arrobas exemplify Albariño’s versatility, with each wine showcasing distinct elements of minerality, salinity, and fruit character. Additionally, Albamar produces a red wine, Fusco, a fresh, mineral-driven Mencía that captures the essence of Ribeira Sacra’s terroir.

Each wine is crafted with a minimal intervention philosophy: spontaneous fermentation, no oak or neutral oak aging, and careful handling with low to no sulfites. Xurxo’s focus is to produce wines that are expressive, pure, and true to their origin.

Did you know?

The name Albamar plays on Xurxo’s love for the sea, as it translates to "white by the sea." This connection to the ocean is not only symbolic but also defines his winemaking style—fresh, saline, and vibrant wines that reflect Galicia’s unique coastal terroir.

Robert Parker (RP) : 92 Points (2022)
There is great regularity in the eponymous Albariño that blends different vineyards, bringing the freshness and the coastal influence into the wine. The 2022 Albamar, despite coming from a warmer and drier year, keeps a moderate alcoholic degree and has a balanced palate with the austerity of the granite, a little wider than the 2021 but still harmonious. Rating: 92+

Bodegas Albamar Fusco 2021
Bodegas Albamar Fusco 2021
Bodegas Albamar
Fusco 2021
RP
91
The Bodegas Albamar Fusco is a light, fresh expression of Mencía from Ribeira Sacra, defying its name (meaning "dark" in Galician) with its lively and bright character.
23,90 €
Quantity : moins plus
Bodegas Albamar Sesenta e Nove Arrobas Albariño 2020
Bodegas Albamar Sesenta e Nove Arrobas Albariño 2020
Bodegas Albamar
Sesenta e Nove Arrobas Albariño 2020
RP
96

Bodegas Albamar Sesenta e Nove Arrobas Albariño is an extraordinary limited-edition wine crafted from Xurxo Alba's oldest vines, bringing depth and a complex minerality to each glass.

45,90 €
Quantity : moins plus
Bodegas Albamar Alma de Mar Albariño 2021
Bodegas Albamar Alma de Mar Albariño 2021
Bodegas Albamar
Alma de Mar Albariño 2021
RP
93
Alma de Mar is a meticulously crafted Albariño with organic farming and native yeast fermentation, resulting in a wine that is clean, bright, and strikingly mineral.
48,90 €
Quantity : moins plus
Bodegas Albamar Ceibo Godello 2022
Bodegas Albamar Ceibo Godello 2022
Bodegas Albamar
Ceibo Godello 2022
RP
91
The Bodegas Albamar Ceibo Godello is an elegant and refined expression of Godello, showcasing the mineral-driven terroir of Valdeorras with finesse and complexity.
32,50 €
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Bodegas Albamar Finca O Pereiro Albariño 2021
Bodegas Albamar Finca O Pereiro Albariño 2021
Bodegas Albamar
Finca O Pereiro Albariño 2021
RP
96
Crafted by Xurxo Alba from old vines, this Albariño from Rías Baixas is a true expression of the O Salnés terroir, celebrated for its bright, precise flavors and organic cultivation.
41,50 €
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Bodegas Albamar PAI Albariño 2022
Bodegas Albamar PAI Albariño 2022
Bodegas Albamar
PAI Albariño 2022
RP
92
Bodegas Albamar PAI Albariño is an exquisite representation of the Albariño varietal, celebrated for its aromatic intensity and complexity. This wine is a product of the Rías Baixas region in Spain, renowned for its exceptional Albariño wines.
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Bodegas Albamar Pepe Luis Albariño 2021
Bodegas Albamar Pepe Luis Albariño 2021
Bodegas Albamar
Pepe Luis Albariño 2021
RP
94
Crafted in honor of Xurxo Alba’s brother, the Bodegas Albamar Pepe Luis Albariño is a rich, textured expression of old-vine Albariño with a unique depth and complexity.
51,00 €
Quantity : moins plus
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25,90 €
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