Description
We purchase this wine every vintage, but while not meaning to sound like a “wine merchant” again, the 2023 may be Rafael Palacios’ finest effort ever!
While Rafael’s brother is the famous Priorat pioneer Alvaro, Rafael has found great esteem producing his Godello whites from inland Galicia in northwestern Spain.
Louro do Bolo is made from Palacios’ younger 25+ year old Godello parcels growing on decomposed granite sand at 2,000 feet. Hand picked and sorted, the whole clusters are gently pressed indigenously fermented in large used foudres where the wine remains on the fine lees for 4 months before bottling. The result is a wine that is clear and precise, with a fine saline-mineral core propping up a nicely textured base of fruit. Plump but tense with some exotic notes, this wine is delicious by itself or extremely food friendly.
“The young, balsamic and still faintly medicinal entry-level white 2023 Louro is dense, ripe and powerful at 13.9% alcohol, pungent and intense with a bitter twist in the finish. It’s very tasty, almost salty, with cleanliness and precision, combining power with freshness and elegance. This is quite impressive” – 93+ – Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate
Deliciously impressionistic now, and a wonderful alternative and great value for those wanting to try something different than Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio/Gris..
“Consistently fine ratings every vintage. https://www.rafaelpalacios.com/louro