Odd Lot #153: Viña Nora 24 Rias Baixas Albariño ‘Peitan’
$ 8.98
- With all of Rias Baixas’ newfound popularity over the last decade, prices have risen in tandem, with the region’s patchwork of terraced plots holding most expensive average land acquisition price of any productive vineyard area in Spain (!!), averaging around €270,000 Euros per hectare. Here is the thing though – When spending time in the region last month two positive commercial developments reared their head at every stop: 1) The soon-to-be-released 2025 harvest was absolutely massive in size. 2) Growers were beginning to see market pushback against the “now normal in the USA” $20-$25 per bottle retail rate for entry-point wines in the category. Exciting buying opportunities had opened up on the Rias Baixas Albariño front for the first time in a decade… In reaction, we booked a massive load of wine for you (pricing being, of course, at “Odd Lots” rates)… …and the wine piled on this vessel? It was called Peitan and it is the self-described “tavern pour” of our favorite lady in Galician wine and Tim Atkin’s 2025 “Young Winemaker of the Year,” the uber-talented Ms. Emilia Schmidt of Viña Nora. When undertaking last month’s Rias Baixas sourcing exercise, tasting the category blind, and ultimately picking Peitan as our winner, something important stood out…something that few in the industry ever mention: The massive variation in character between the appellation’s five sub-zones. Viña Nora, who produces today’s Peitan Albariño, is located in the most inland, most eastern, and most southern of these – An area called Condado do Tea. Where wines from Salnes make headlines for their unrivaled palate “cut,” wines from Condado do Tea are sought after for a completely different reason: Rich palate texture. Let’s not get carried away though – Nothing from this Condado do Tea sub-zone is going to come across as a butterball (run the labs and you’ll find the most forward of wines here will have a higher total acidity than any 1er Cru or Grand Cru Chablis), but the impact of this zone’s warmer climate is noticeable and something to savor as the region’s wines roll over your tongues. The recent notes on today’s 2024 Peitan from Tim are demonstrative: “The 2024 Albariño Peitán comes from Rías Baixas. In a floral, direct style, it delivers aromas of orange blossom, lemon peel and white peach. It’s broad and gently rich, with well-balanced freshness, offering a simple yet expressive profile typical of the Miño area. This is a flavorful white best enjoyed young. 90 points.” – Tim Atkin 1/26 So, you smile and ask… “What is the price of admission?” For handmade, engaging Rias Baixas Albariño? Fifteen bucks and change.
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