Rafael Palacios Louro Godello 2023

Lemon with golden hints. Full of intense aromas of lemon, orange blossom and fennel with a saline edge. On the palate, there is plenty of textural complexity to compliment the fruit-forward flavours and mineral finish.

The fruit for this wine comes from parcels located in the municipality of O Bolo, surrounding the villages of Chandoiro, Lentellais, Outardepregos and Santa Cruz do Bolo. The vines are an average of 25 years old, planted at an altitude of over 600 meters and on sandy granitic soils with clay deposits. The vineyards are managed using organic and biodynamic practices in a bid to lead them back to a traditional way of cultivation.

The 2023 vintage was a year marked by consistent summer temperatures and significant drought. The temperatures remained high during most of the vegetative cycle which meant careful vineyard management was needed, but also reduced the need for the use of preventative treatments. The rains arrived in September and, although risky, the harvest was delayed in order to allow the grapes to ripen and balance evenly. The risk proved successful, and the resulting fruit was of excellent quality.

The grapes were pressed and fermented in 35 hectolitre French oak foudres before being aged on fine lees for 4 months prior to bottling.