Wine Advisor
Rafael Palacios, As Sortes Val do Bibei Valdeorras Godello 2016
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Description
Made with grapes from our oldest vineyards in property. They are six small ‘sortes’ that were planted in the late 1970's and early 1980's and that Rafael Palacios acquired upon his arrival to the region during the years 2004 to 2007. They are located on the north side of the Bibei Valley, in Santa Cruz do Bolo and at an altitude of over 680 meters. They are vines of the Godello variety with an average age of 40 years, and clones recovered from old traditional vines within the Revival plan (recovery plan of the indigenous vineyard of Valdeorras). Its soils are pure granite sand, not very fertile and with low yields, which produces wines with a marked geo-climatic character and great personality. Viticulture is based on respect for tradition, the use of organic treatments, and the management of the different works within biodynamic agriculture. The must is fermented in 500 litre oak barrels and aged for 8 months in barrel.
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Luis Gutiérrez
As my tasting routine takes me to Valdeorras every 16 months or so, sometimes I have two vintages of the most relevant wines to taste side by side. Such was the case with the 2016 As Sortes, which I tasted next to the following 2017 vintage. 2016 was a slow-ripening year with a dry harvest that allowed for perfectly ripe grapes while maintaining very good levels of freshness. It fermented and matured in 500-liter oak barrels for some six to seven months. This has to be the finest vintage for As Sortes, and they seem to have been on a roll since 2012. The growing cycle was almost perfect and allowed for perfect ripeness of the grapes, which were harvested in the second half of October, very late (they finished on the 4th of November). The grapes achieved full flavors through slow ripening and kept the acidity. It has a sense of balance and symmetry with great precision and purity. There are subtle aromas of apricots and yellow plums and a twist of aromatic herbs intermixed with notes of wet granite. The palate has great intensity of flavors and is superbly balanced, long and tasty, with the signature saltiness on the finish. 32,000 bottles were filled in July 2017.
About the Producer
Rafael Palacios began his personal project in 2004, in the sub-zone of the Bibei Valley, municipality of O Bolo, D.O. Valdeorras, buying old vines of the region´s Godello grape variety to ancient vinegrowers. The extreme orography and low-yielding poor soils, the phylloxera and the depression of the 1920s, had forced growers to leave aside almost completely this small but historic vinegrowing región of Valdeorras.Mainly cultivated in terraces, these small plots known as ‘Sorte’ in Galician, were inhereted by these vinegrowers by draw, (Sorteo). These parcels, are located in the most western part of the region, at the foot of the Ourense central massif, where the geological past of the region, has been strongly influenced by the source materials, the granite rock, mainly in its own morphology and phiyscal characteristics. These are Sandy soils, formed by the natural degradation of granite rock and the presence of quartz schists. They are unfertile soils, acidic and easily eroded. For this reason, light drilling machinery has been specially adapted in order to preserve the structure of the terraces, as well as the incorporation of traditional work with animals thus recovering traditional viticultural practices and preserving the historic landscape of the Bibei Valley. Currently the property consists of 32 plots, with a total area of 24,5 hectares of Godello, which enjoy a continental climate of Atlantic influence. Located on the right bank of the Bibei river, its altitudes ranges from 620 to 740 metres, being the municipality of O Bolo the highest altitude in the región. Rafael Palacios personally oversees the viticulture and winemaking. He constantly strives to respect the identity of O Bolo and maximize the purity of expression of his wines.
