2022 Pedro Mendez Viño Branco Albariño
Pedro Méndez doesn’t yet have the world’s attention, but he’s well represented in Spain’s top restaurants, including dozens of Michelin-starred spots throughout the country, including País Vasco’s three-star Arzak. His micro-production of ancient-vine Albariño is a treat to say the least and we’ll take what we can get.
Sustainable farming practices and less than 300 cases produced annually
- Tasting Notes sweet Meyer lemon, sweetened juicy lime, honeysuckle, agave, salty ocean breeze
- Variety Albariño
- Region Spain, Rias Baixas
- Volume 750ml
- Alcohol Volume 12.5%
- Table Talk This wine is made from pre-phylloxera Albariño vines that are nearly 200 years old. They look more like trees than vines (see below).
Pedro Méndez doesn’t yet have the world’s attention, but he’s well represented in Spain’s top culinary destinations, including dozens of Michelin-starred spots throughout the country, including País Vasco’s three-star Arzak, an institution that landed its first star in 1974.
Pedro’s breakthrough into Spain’s top spots started with his reds—50-70-year-old Mencía and Caíño Tinto vines, with the former a peculiar variety for the appellation, especially with its enviable vine age. With just over 1000 bottles produced of each of the two reds, more than half of them are sold to Spanish Michelin-starred restaurants, and most of the rest to top local restaurants. This says something, no? We’re lucky to import a quarter of Pedro’s production of reds along with a quarter of his micro-production, ancient-vine Albariños. It’s not much wine, but we’ll take them.
Related Items
-
2022 Lieu Dit Santa Ynez Valley Sauvignon Blanc
This Santa Barbara Sauvignon Blanc is very Sancerre in style. Lean, mineral-driven, and utterly refreshing. A household staple of mine and a crowd-pleaser at dinner parties. Drink with your favorite Thai takeout, salty popcorn, a big leafy green salad or a filet of salmon.
Sustainable/organic farming practices, hand-harvested grapes, native yeast fermentation, low-sulfur and minimal intervention winemaking.
-
NV Veuve Fourny & Fils Champagne Brut ‘Grands Terroirs’ Premier Cru
This Champagne comes from 30 year old vines with 2.5 years of aging in bottle before release. The result is a sleek, elegant Champagne that has roundness along with the astonishing freshness and finesse. This is a great bang for your buck.
-
2018 Domaine Alain Burguet Chambertin ‘Clos de Bèze’ Grand Cru
If you know, you know. ‘Clos de Bèze’ is the most prestigious and sought-after Grand Crus in Gevrey-Chambertin. For collectors, this wine is a great investment. It will only continue to appreciate in value as it ages over the next 10-20 years.
Practicing organic viticulture, hand-harvested, native yeast fermentation, unfined/unfiltered and only 100 cases produced.
-
2022 Hirsch ‘Hirschvergnugen’ Gruner Veltliner
Whether new to Gruner Veltliner or a longtime fan of the grape, this exquisite expression from Hirsch promises to please. Hailing from Austria’s famed Kamptal region, fruit for this wine is grown in calcareous and loamy soils, which is responsible for the structured, mineral-driven backbone of the wine (AKA, what we love about it so much!) This our go-to with sushi. It also pairs well with Thai food or anything with a little spice.
Organic and biodynamically-farmed vineyards, family-owned estate, slow fermented with native yeasts, and vinified entirely in steel.