Pazo das Bruxas Albariño
Spanish white wines are difficult to find in Istanbul; even in duty free. This Pazo das Bruxas Albariño was the only thing E&M could find the last time they came through. Considering how much I love Albariño though I was glad to have it!
The Pazo das Bruxas Albariño is from Vino de la Familia Torres. For five generations the Torres family has been making wine in Spain. They have vineyards in eight DOs (Denominación de Origen) and two DOCa regions (Denominación de Origen Calificada).
Pazo das Bruxas is a wine that pays homages to the folklore and nature of Galicia, a land of immense forests inhabited by mystic and magical beings like the Galician witches. They lived in old country houses (pazos) where they conjured up spirits through magic and dance. And so the sap, the lifeblood, coursed through the vines, filling them with vitality. Just like the Albariño stock that gives life to Pazo das Bruxas.
E&M and I discussed the wine label possibly more than we did the wine (which was lovely). Put three Spanish speakers (one native) in a room with a Spanish bottle of wine and we all puzzled over the the label. E&M speak Colombian Spanish and I speak largely Mexican Spanish. Spain Spanish is a different animal but it was more than that. In the end we figured the label was written in either Galacian or Catalán. Galacian would make sense as the Rías Baixas DO, where the grapes were grown, is in Galacia. But the family seems to be Catalán (and the website is in Catalán).
Even before I reached legal drinking age I knew St Julian through its range of sparkling juices. My older sister and I used to drink those
as kids and pretend they were real wine. In fact, our mom even brought a bottle of St Julian sparkling white grape juice to Mexico for my sister’s wedding toast! I was still living in Michigan when I turned 21. At that point I turned from sparkling juices and some of my early forays into wine, as a know-nothing neophyte, were also with wine from St Julian. I have very fond memories of the winery’s Red and Blue Heron wines.
Pazo de Bruxas Albariño 2014 Tasting Notes
A light weight wine in both alcohol (12% abv) and color (clear, pale straw yellow), this is a lively and lovely Albariño. It is so aromatic. Aromas of white flowers, citrus, minerals, and crushed gravel waft out of the glass and wrap you in their perfume.
Very dry, balanced, with lovely acid and something of a short finish, the flavors are classic Rías Baixas Albariño. Saline and minerals on the attack with the bright, happy flavors of grapefruit pith and citrus zest on the mid palate.
Delicate with a steel core I could almost believe that the witches of Galacia danced this wine into existence with their magic!