93pts Vinous (2022, 2023 not yet rated)
Drink Date: 2023 – 2028
To keep the volume of the 2022 Alberto Nanclares, they had to sacrifice the Paraje Mina, Crisopa and Coccinela bottlings and add them to this cuve. They are very careful with the environment in their vineyards; they do not use herbicides or chemical products. In 2022, they got very low yields, even if it was a healthy year. The wine has more weight; it’s round and tender, with integrated acidity. 7,200 bottles were produced. In 2023, the situation will be even more dramatic. They didn’t bottle any of the single-vineyard wines and only managed around 4,000 bottles of Alberto Nanclares because of the problems with mildew.

Alberto Nanclares y Silvia Prieto had a catastrophic 2023 vintage, when they only got 3,300 kilos of grapes from their vineyards (they usually get around 18,000 kilos), as they had a massive mildew attack. Their normal production is around 50,000 bottles (they also buy grapes), but in 2023, it will be much less. After this, they decided to make some changes in their viticulture and also to restructure their portfolio a little, as they had up to 21 different wines!

I tasted mostly 2021 and 2022 in white and 2020 and 2021 in red. 2021 was challenging: It was cool with mildew, and they didn’t treat the vines. They had ripening problems, and the wines have low alcoholmany grapes were picked at 11% with more freshness. 2021 was not a harvest for reds. 2022 was warmer, with grapes that were a little riper and rounder wines. As for 2020, it was warm and dry, but they also had fungal attacks. It was better for reds. Published:Nov 16, 2023

Region: Val do Salnes, Ras Baixas, Galicia
Varieties: 100% Albario
Vineyard: From 10 organically farmed plots, mainly in the area of Cambados, but also in Ribadumia and Portas. The vines range in age from 15 to 95 years and area all planted on decomposed granite sands.
Vinification Method: The hand-harvested grapes were gently pressed in a pneumatic press without destemming into stainless steel tanks (73%) and used French oak barrels (27%). The wine rested on its lees for 9 months in those vessels with weekly batonnage for the first 3 months. Bottled without stabilization or clarification, and with only a gentle filtration and small addition of SO2.

Winery: Alberto Nanclares and Silvia Prieto make transparent, Atlantic-influenced wines, mainly with Albario from old vines around the village of Cambados. Employing organic farming practices and a restrained hand in the cellar, the pair have managed something very rare: the refinement of Albario into angular, age-worthy wines that express the fascinating terruos of Cambados and Ras Baixas. Alberto and Silvia currently own 5 hectares of Albario in the Val do Salns, all trained in the traditional Pergola style and divided into 12 small parcels in the parroquias of Castrelo (South Cambados), Vilario (North Cambados) and Padrenda (North Meao). The essence of their approach is reverence for the vineyard, from organic farming to fermentation by native yeasts. To