Rafael Palacios 'Sorte O Soro'

The fruit for this wine is sourced from a 0.47 ha single vineyard in the Bibei Valley. The south-west facing site was planted in terraces in 1978 with a low vigour clone of Godello, which produces intensely concentrated fruit. Located at 710 metres above sea level and exposed to the northern slopes of the Bibei Valley, the vineyard receives a constant cooling breeze, which accounts for the wine's signature freshness. The site's distinctive, granite soils are sandy in texture with elements of quartz and schist, providing a characteristic saline edge in the wine. The site is managed traditionally with horses and following biodynamic principles.

The 2019 vintage saw more generous yields following two challenging years, during which no 'Sorte o Soro' was produced. April experienced abundant rainfall and quite cold conditions, which delayed budburst. This late start, combined with much fewer hours of sunshine than usual, delayed the start of maturation and resulted in a significantly later harvest than recent years. Slow, steady ripening, coupled with short sunny days and cold nights, resulted in intense fruit with good acidity and complexity. Rafa describes it as “an exceptional vintage with tension and nerve, which warns us of its great ageing capacity”