Albarino Foudre 2011/12, Angel Sequeiros, Rias Baixas

Well-defined bouquet with light orange blossom and apricot notes. The palate is well-balanced with crisp acidity. There are light, honeyed tones with commendable weight and persistency on the walnut-tinged finish.

Angel Sequeiros, the youngest son of six children, was born in 1920 in Cabreira, to a humble family of Galician farmers. After being forced to fight in the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s he returned home and emigrated in search of a better life for his family. After returning to Galiciain in 1960, he purchased Quinta* A Gaviñeira, a stately property with Albariño vineyards dating from the 1920s. Today, the 7.4-hectare estate is run by his son Clement, who released the first vintage in 2009. His Albariños have quickly gained critical acclaim.

Fermented in temperature controlled steel vats, then aged on its lees, in a large French oak ‘foudre’, for 11 months. Weekly batonnage for 6 months.