1998 Albarino
Those Spaniards are going to take over soon if the word gets out on wines like this. They already have the most land dedicated to vines on the planet and the juice has been getting better and more attention has been focused on them in the last 10 years. Most of you may know the region of Rioja with its fantastic red wines, but how about the white wines of Rias Baixas.
Yea, you heard me right, Rias Baixas (ree-ahss bii-shahs), say it a dozen times and get used to that “x” pronounced as a “sh”. After a couple of bottles we don’t care how you pronounce it. The wine of the month here at Damn Good Wine headquarters is the 1998 Martin Codax Albarino. Oh, you don’t know Albarino, well let me introduce you. Say hello to my lil’ friend.
Medium gold in color with what seems to be some stuff floating in it, but after further examination it reveals itself as the tiniest of effervescent bubbles, or so it seems. I’m not sure, but I don’t care, because this is a terrific wine. First sniff brings almonds, then oily nuts. Then weed, smoked wood, and pan seared peaches. So you get the picture so far, very intense aromas. The flavors are very happenin’ also.
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