2020 Pazo Barrantes La Comtesse

The Pazo de Barrantes La Comtesse is a prime example of the Albariño grape's potential and demonstrates how beautifully an Albariño can age. La Comtesse is the older sibling of the very fine Pazo de Barrantes Albariño and is undoubtedly one of the very best Albariños. La Comtesse exhibits concentration, elegance, and balance, and the cool vintage gives the wine beautiful acidity that provides freshness and length. The grapes are very limited, coming from a small parcel, the 1.4-hectare Pago Cacheiro, the oldest (50 years old) and lowest-yielding vines on the Pazo de Barrantes estate.

La Comtesse from Pazo de Barrantes has been on the market since 2009. The owner of this estate is the renowned Marqués de Murrieta, and the owners have roots in Galicia, hence their desire to produce a top-quality wine and showcase the potential of the Albarino grape with extended aging on lees and in large oak barrels. Each vintage, they choose to extend the aging process.

All grapes come from Pago Cacheiro, a single 1.4-hectare vineyard planted in 1965, in the heart of the Pazo Barrantes estate, a 12-hectare estate in the Salnés Valley, the heart of the Rías Baixas region. The soil is sandy over granite bedrock. Harvest took place in 18 kg crates on September 22, 2018. After extensive selection, the grapes were destemmed and gently and slowly pressed in a pneumatic press. The must was decanted using flotation to ensure greater aromatic purity and then fermented at 10°C in 3,000-liter French oak barrels for approximately 60 days. The wine then spends 12 months in 3,000-liter French oak barrels, including 2 months on the lees and 12 months in concrete tanks. After bottling, the wine also undergoes extensive bottle aging. Only around 6,500 bottles of this now iconic Albariño were produced. This wine is only produced in the best vintages and receives unanimously high ratings from the international wine press.

99 Guía Proensa points
97 Guía Gourmets points
96 Guía Peñín points
96 Tim Atkin points
95 James Suckling points

In the glass, the Marqués de Murrieta La Comtesse de Pazo Barrantes is a beautiful, clear, light straw yellow. On the nose, we encounter lovely aromas of apple, peach, lime, and, of course, the pear characteristic of Albariño, but we also detect hints of oyster shell and lime. The latter becomes even more pronounced on the palate. The wine is full-bodied, slightly creamy, minerally with a good hint of briny sea air and a long, flavorful finish. This enjoyable wine is also a gourmet delight, begging for fresh oysters but also excellent with richer fish dishes such as cod with rosemary and honey, roasted chicken and vegetables, or a warm shrimp salad with honey mustard and green apples.

FACT: In the "Attachments" tab, you'll find the official fact sheet for this fine wine. We'll automatically send it to you when you order it. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you pick it up, you'll often receive a nice discount. You'll see your discount immediately when you select "Pickup" at checkout. We're located in Dordrecht with ample parking. Click here for our address.

Pazo de Barrantes Winery

Marqués de Murrieta also has an estate in the Rías Baixas (Galicia) called Pazo de Barrantes. The 12-hectare Albariño vineyard is located in the Valle del Salnés. This vineyard, thanks to the natural influences of the landscape, contributes to the wine's aromatic complexity. Read more under the heading "Winery."