Grandes Pagos Gallegos, Quinta de Couselo, Rosal, DO Rías Baixas, Galicia, Spain, 2023

Producer Profile

Grandes Pagos Gallegos is a project within Ribeira Sacra to produce expressive wines from the three great native Galician white varieties of Treixadura, Albariño and Godello, as well as the best red varieties of Mencía, Caiño, Brancellao and Sousón.

The fruit is responsibly sourced from vineyards in which each variety is most at home – always in historic areas and preferably on hillsides – and is cultivated with utmost respect for the land, Participating wineries include Adgea Ponte da Boga, Quinta Couselo and Fragas do Lecer.

Viticulture

Sourced from the estate's vineyards and from leased plots under the close technical control of the winery. Soils are granite and shale based. Strict control in the vineyard with manual harvest in boxes of 15kg.

Winemaking

Immediately before arrival at the winery, the grapes are subjected to temperature control by cold storage transport at 5°C. A vibrating sorting table selects the best fruit, bunch by bunch. The whole grapes are destemmed and given a short maceration with skins prior to pressing. Separation of musts. Static racking. Temperature-controlled fermentation. Ageing on fine lees for 6 months. Clarification, stabilisation and sterile filtration prior to bottling in May/ June.

Tasting Note

Intense lemon yellow, with a greenish flash, steely edging, clean and very bright. Elegant floral intensity (orange blossom, jasmine, chamomile), with character, fresh fruit sensations (red delicious apple, litchee, Williams pear), lemon cream and lemongrass, subtle aromas of aromatic herbs (thyme, sage), fresh hay sliced, delicate balsamic (laurel) and mineral notes. Intense entry, with volume, fresh and balanced, fruity and floral sensations, light citrus, the palate is creamy, intense and fresh, minerality that gives way to salty sensations, long-lasting with a very good final aftertaste, Elegant.

Food Matching

Perfect with seafood, shellfish, light fish dishes, salads, and fresh cheeses.

Awards

Jancis Robinson "Galicia came to London" 17 Points
Some green notes – more complex than the 100% Albariño versions. Lots of racy saline quality and a real mouth-filler. Tastes as though it may age well. Light notes of honey. 17 Points, JR, April 2025.