Love Seafood? Here is a wine you need to know.

Fast Facts:

• 2023 Bodegas Viña Cartín Ruta 49, Albariño, Rias Baixas, Spain ($9.99 @ Trader Joe’s in California) 

I’ll be honest. The first thing that drew me to this wine was its uber cool label design. But once it “had me at hello” I noticed that the juice behind this label was Albariño from Rias Baixas.  That is the right grapes, from the right place.  And at just $9.99, it was the right price to deliver a knock out QPR.  And it did.

Albariño is the primary grape used to make dry white wine in the Rias Baixes (Lower Inlets) section of the Galicia region of Northwestern Spain. Considered by many to be Spain’s premier quality white wine.  Albariño is also known in Portugal as Alvarinho and often used as a component of Vinho Verde.

Typically, wines made from Albariño are very aromatic, often described as having scents of almonds or almond paste, apples, peaches, citrus, and flowers or grass. Albariño wines are particularly suited to seafood due to their bracing acidity. I recall distincly being introduced to this grape variety at a seafood restaurant in London named Bentley’s – we ate there two nights in a row and had a bottle of Albariño both nights.

This grape’s inherent tartness should be embraced in youth, for wines made from Albariño do not age well, and the vibrant aromas begin to noticeably fade within months of bottling, which explains why this 2023 vintage wine is less than one year old. Our advice if your local Trader Joe’s is stocking it? Buy it fast and drink it fast.

Today, Rías Baixas is renowned for its artisanal winemaking, led by local growers. Albariño, its flagship grape variety, has gained global acclaim, notably in the United States. This wine ranks among the world’s finest whites, celebrated for its distinct character and quality, continuing the region’s rich tradition of winemaking excellence.

Tasting Notes:

What a nice change from the white wines we typically enjoy here on the west coast. Tangerine skin, green apple and ripe pear on the nose. Medium to full bodied. Some wet stone, sea salt and earthy terroir. The kind of intense gold color we find with a quality Chardonnay. A rich skin and stem earthy shale and limestone influence. Well balanced. Lemon peel and mild clementine on the finish. ABV = 13%

 

Need More Wine Picks from Trader Joe’s – or Costco?

If your search for this wine lands you in Trader Joe’s, take along our handy Lucky 13 list of TJ’s wine here.

And if your wine shopping excursions land you in Costco, prepare by grazing our most recent reviews of Costco wines here in our Lucky 13 list.

Cheers!