2016 Granbazan Albarino "Etiqueta Ambar" Rias Baixas Spain 750 ml

One of the Greatest Albariño Vintages in 77 Years

Spain’s lush Rías Baixas region is home to some of the world’s best Albariño — the oldest of which is grown near the town of Cambados in the Val do Salnés sub-region. Here, vines immortalized by age produce Albariños of great depth and complexity. In 2016, Granbazán bottled one of their greatest efforts in 77 years. Typically the coolest of Rías Baixas’ five sub-regions, the Salnés Valley was blessed with heat and the result is a beautifully complex, lush Albariño, which the Wine Access Judging Panel awarded 91 points overall. Granbazán wines are only sporadically available in the U.S. and we have a limited and coveted allocation. With such a beautiful acid backbone, this is one Albariño you could cellar.

No one does Albariño better than Rías Baixas’ lauded Granbazán, featured in top restaurants and wine shops all over Spain, and whose distinctive green and amber labels can’t be forgotten once the wine inside is tasted. Stimulated and cleansed by dry winds, Granbazán’s vines are planted on 33 acres in the middle of a sunny microclimate largely devoid of humidity. The vines are trained on stone pergolas — parras — made from the same granite as the soil below.

The 2016 Granbazán Albariño “Etiqueta Ámbar" is a blend of mostly estate fruit, along with a careful selection of grapes sourced from some of the area’s best growers. After an extended cold soak, which brings to life the wine’s impressive aromatic profile, fermentation happens in stainless steel to preserve the freshness of fruit flavors. Extended aging on the lees creates a wonderfully rich mouthfeel.