Rectoral do Umia Albariño Rías Baixas 2024 (Spain)

Description

Floral, Melon, Nectarine

"It's finely scented on the nose aromas of green rockmelon, ripe pear, lemongrass, and oatmeal. The palate is concentrated and focused with a linear mouthfeel and a saline texture, splendidly structured by wonderfully pitched acidity, leading to a persistent, exuberant finish. At its best: now to 2030" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

"A really good example with a bouquet of sea spray and citrus, white fleshed stone fruits and a fine lee complexity. A dry wine on the palate with an excellent acid line and length, flavours of citrus and white fleshed fruits, peach and orange peel then spice and saline highlights driven along by the acidity. There’s some tension and poise as well as a light complexity delivering some intrigue. Well made, juicy, fleshy and delicious, a wine that will accompany my seafood dinner tonight" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, Feb 2026

"Lifted perfume of honeysuckle, tangelo, candied lemon, sea spray and ginger unfurls off this expressive, up-front yet well-defined albariño. Delicate, light-bodied and hung off a distinctly tart line of acidity, this is all perfume right to the gently peppery finish with some salty length" Steve Bennett, Master of Wine, Importer

"With a legacy over 50 years, Bodegas Gallegas produces authentic, terroir-driven wines from Galicia’s finest vineyards" Drinks Business

“From Galicia’s lush vineyards, Bodegas Gallegas offers wines of purity and character, true to their regional roots” Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

Renowned family-owned Bodegas Gallegas started the specialist Rectoral do Umia Albarino project in 2009 in the heart of the Val do Salnés sub-zone the historic and highest-quality area for Albariño in Rías Baixas where they have 130 ha of their own vines plus work with 200+ local growers .Albariño was already cultivated in Galicia during Roman times as far back as the 2nd Century AD, making it one of Europe’s oldest documented varieties. Rectoral is the Galician/Spanish term for a parish rectory with many dotted along the banks of the Río Umia since the origins of the Santiago pilgrimage.

With aerated canopies trained on high pergolas (“parral”) Albarino is allowed to ripen slowly for a long time developing concentrated flavours and a rich phenolic structure while maintaining naturally high ‘saline’ acidity and freshness. Only Galicia allows the variety to develop the signature intense, exotic aromas of bergamot orange, acacia blossom, and nectarine. 

Food Pairings: Perfect with seafood, poultry, pork, summer salads and grilled vegetables.