2024 Rafael Palacios As Sortes Magnum

Rafael Palacios, brother of famous winemaker Alvaro Palacios from Priorat, began making wine in Valdeorras in 2004. He purchased old vineyards with Godello grapes from local farmers. All 22.5 hectares of the estate are planted with this grape, distributed across 26 vineyards. The age of the vines ranges from 7 to 91 years old. All plots are cultivated organically. He cultivates his best plots—Sorte O Soro, Sorte Antiga, and Os Canieros—entirely biodynamically. The name of the wine, As Sortes, is Galician for 'hereditary lots'. After all, the Galician inheritance system is structured in such a way that every child receives an equal share of a piece of land; in this way, the vineyards naturally become incredibly fragmented, and everyone receives a 'sorte' or hereditary lot. It often happens that a 1-hectare vineyard is divided into 10 different hereditary lots or 'sortes'. The plural As Sortes is therefore many inheritances together in one wine.

Rafa has his vineyards in Santa Cruz do Bolo, where the soil differs from the rest of Valdeorras. The soil here is entirely granite, with a top texture of coarse sand grains derived from the eroded granite. The granite here is composed of feldspar, mica, and quartz. The quartz, in particular—a mineral of crystallized silicon—lends a mineral and saline character to the wines. The rainfall is high, resulting in very low soil pH and consequently very high acidity. All the 'sortes' share the same soils, with only the texture and grain size varying. The altitude ranges from 650 to 720 m.

Rafa attaches great importance to the selective harvesting of each plot, precisely to avoid losing the unique character of the different parcels. At harvest, the grapes are placed on the sorting table. Cold maceration and maximum protection against oxidation are other techniques he employs to prevent loss of quality. The use of large oak vats is very important. Rafa selects the oak from Northern French forests: the colder the forest, the less aromatic the wood, the more neutral it is, and the better it has oxygenation for élevage sur lies. The wood is lightly toasted for many hours over a very low heat so that the pores of the barrique open, but without being marked by smoke or torrefaction aromas. He performs bâtonnage less frequently than before, as he notices that the wines lose character and personality due to excessive use of the yeast cells. The As Sortes is fermented in large 500-liter wooden vats for a good month, after which the wine undergoes a 6-month élevage in the same vats.

The As Sortes is fresh, clean, and complex, and is very different from other white wines from the Valdeorras. On the nose, we detect notes of yellow fruit, citrus, and spices, accentuated by creamy accents and just a hint of smoke. The palate is medium-bodied with very good acidity, full and spicy yet fresh and smooth at the same time. The finish is slightly briny and mineral and lingers in the mouth. A maximum of (only) 15,000 bottles of As Sortes are produced, making it highly recommended for those who are a bit tired of Chardonnay. The wine has a fine drinking window until at least 2034. This is a 1.5-liter magnum.

FUN FACT: The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you come to pick up the wine, you will also receive a nice discount. You will see your discount immediately when you select "Pick up" on the Checkout page. We are located almost next to the main road with ample parking. Click here for our address.