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

Producer Profile

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

Seeking out land where these varietals are most purely expressed. The wineries are characterised by a series of common traits, including uniqueness and a vineyard of the highest quality. They are winegrowers first and foremost before they are winemakers, practicing environmentally friendly cultivation and giving the utmost importance to the location of the vineyards, always in historic areas and preferably on hillsides. Their notable wineries include Adgea Ponte da Boga, Quinta Couselo and Fragas de 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, stabilization 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.

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.