Virgen del Galir Val do Galir Godello 2023

Description

Val do Galir Godello 2023 comes from the winery Virgen del Galir which was founded in 2002 and in 2018 became part of the CVNE group known particularly for its lovely Riojas. Despite the change of ownership, the wine production remains small, organic and focused on the local indigenous grapes like Godello. The winery says “We source our grapes from our own 20 hectares of vineyards at an altitude of over 600m. The vines are grown largely on terraces composed of chalk and decomposed granite soils which gives the fruit complexity, minerality, finesse and elegance.”

Val do Galir Godello 2023 used to be known as Pagos del Galir Godello. This organic wine has the lovely citrus flavours that are a signature of the Godello grape and in addition has distinct mineral notes with a hint of salinity from the nearby Atlantic. In fact Valdeorras is the most inland of Galicia’s wine regions but the 2023 vintage has managed to display a “marked Atlantic style” according to the producers. There are also notes of peach and floral characteristics on the nose and a hint of nuttiness peeping through on the palate. Val do Galir Godello 2023 is partly aged on its lees in large oak barrels and partly in stainless steel tanks. This is to give the wine a little more complexity, structure and texture rather than to impart any flavours associated with oak. The result is a lovely smooth, medium-bodied wine with a zingy lime-flavoured finish.

FYI, I think this wine might be the lightest wine bottle of all those I stock: read more in my blogpost / rant on wine bottle weights. The label design is inspired by the 18th century shrine to Nuestra Senora de las Ermitas in nearby Las Ermitas or As Ermidas.

To try a blend that includes the Godello grape, maybe take a look at Coto de Gomariz Blanco 2020.