Description
A family writing its history since 1511 -The origin of Pazo de Barrantes goes back to the beginning of the 16th century and since then, it has been connected with the Cebrián- Sagarriga family.
Pazo Barrantes is located in the Galician Salnes valley, in the heart of the D.O. Rias Baixas, and it is surrounded by twelve hectares of own vineyards planted with the Albariño variety.
Its unique terroir and microclimate combined with the daily effort, the care and the expert knowledge permit us to obtain year by year the highest quality grapes. A careful and slow winemaking process allows us to get the highest expression of this grape to produce wines with a great potential for ageing and unique personality.
Own vineyards – The grapes used to elaborate the wine come from Pazo de Barrantes estate, with 12 hectares divided into 8 different plots and located around the winery. The soils of the estate are granitic, with sand on the surface and the average age of the vineyard is 35 years.
Grape varieties: 100% Albariño
Ageing – 85% for 7 months in stainless steel tanks, 15% in acacia wood barrels and 16 months in bottle
This new Pazo Barrantes will surprise with an extremely elegant and expressive nose; fine aromas of white stone fruits, hints of citric fruits, balsamic nuances, acacia blossoms and bay. Liveliness and freshness in the palate, with a fluid texture and a balanced, long finish.
Decanter – 95 points
The lovely Pazo Barrantes estate has been the home of the Creixell family since the 15th century. (They also own the Castillo Ygay estate in Rioja, with its Marqués de Murrieta wines.) Its 12ha of vineyards were replanted in 1982, and the winery opened in 1991. This wine spends two months on lees; 85% is then aged in stainless steel for seven months and 15% in 225L acacia wood barrels. It spends 16 months in bottle before release. Sarah Jane Evans MW: Opulent and perfumed with golden fruit. The palate is bold and intense with ripe fruit subdued by the oak, giving richness. A complex and individual wine. Pierre Mansour: Delightful blossom fruit and floral notes on the nose. Very elegant, with incredible length and real finesse. Beth Willard: Delicate honey and floral aromas. The palate is perfectly rounded by the oak, which lends a gentle sweetness and spice. Peach and apricot on the finish with a touch of mango.
Wine Advocate – 94 points
When some are releasing their 2021 wine, Pazo Barrantes took a break and are now releasing their 2019 Gran Vino Albariño, after a hiatus of almost two years. Because they changed almost everything… They have 12 hectares of 35-year-old vineyards divided into eight different plots around the winery in the Val do Salnés plus one hectare they rent from the archbishopric. The soils are degraded and sandy granite and the pruning the traditional “parrón,” “emparrado” or pergola at 1.8 to two meters high. The grapes were picked between September 13th and 20th, let to settle and fermented in stainless steel at 10 degrees Celsius for 60 days. The wine was kept with the lees for two months and a further seven months in tank, but 15% of the wine matured in 225-liter acacia barrels. The wine was bottled in June 2020 and was kept in bottle for 16 months. It’s 13% alcohol and has a pH of 3.4 and 7.8 grams of acidity (measured in tartaric acid per liter). The wine is extremely balsamic and medicinal, with an explosive nose with notes of white flowers, but the nose changes, as we know. What impressed me was the seamless structure and the harmony on the palate. It’s titillating, elegant, detailed and nuanced, with terrific balance. I was gobsmacked! 95,097 bottles and 1,425 magnums produced. All bottles are numbered and in the same elegant bottle as La Comtesse. Obviously, the price has changed.
Pazo Barrantes is the property in Rías Baixas from Marqués de Murrieta. Today they start a new era: after studying the evolution of Albariño and their wines, they decided to change their approach and abandon the concept of releasing a young wine from the last vintage. They halved the number of bottles produced; they lowered the yields; and they changed the way they ferment the wine, giving it a little bit of time in oak and months of rest in bottle. The objective? To produce an age-worthy wine. Truth is, the wines are completely different; it could very well be a new project altogether. Bravo!
Wine Spectator – 91 points (top 100)
James Suckling – 92 points
A fruity nose of apple blossom, nectarine, candied pear, guava, lime cordial and some fresh cider. It’s medium-bodied with bright acidity and a juicy, ripe palate. Subtle saline notes. Round, delicious finish. Drink now.
Wine Enthusiast – 92 points
This wine has aromas of white peach with a hint of petrol. It is smooth in the mouth, offering flavors of nectarine, Valencia orange, salted popcorn and dried herbs.