Manuel Moldes Albarino 'A Capela de Aios' 2020

Country: Spain

Region: Rias Biaxas

Type: White Wine

Grape: Albarino

A Capela de Aios is named after the tiny capela (church) in the small hamlet of Aios, located outside the Ría de Pontevedra. The vineyards sit on a mound of schist, a unique rock formation in a largely granite land, which Manuel says makes up 99.9% of all the vineyard area within the Val do Salnés. He’s drawn to the expression of wines from this hill, not only because they are rare, but because they bring a very different shape and dimension to Albariño than those grown on granite soils. This wine begins and finishes like classic schist wines: strongly mineral and metallic on the palate, with dense salty characteristics and an almost electric quality, while remaining tight, dry and focused.

The wine is fermented with natural yeasts and aged in 500-700-liter neutral French oak barrels for 9-11 months.