CVNE - Virgen del Galir : Sede e Fame Palomino 2021

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Sede e Fame Palomino 2021 from CVNE - Virgen del Galir

Tasting

Appearance

Visually, this wine displays a bright straw-yellow hue, evolving toward subtle pale golden highlights, with remarkable clarity.

Nose

Subtle, the bouquet reveals lovely complexity. It expresses iodine and balsamic notes, intertwined with aromas of wet stone and warm rock. Delicate hints of macadamia nut, blanched almond, struck match, and dried flowers add further depth.

Palate

The attack stands out for its precision and liveliness. Driven by fine tension and refreshing acidity, it offers a pronounced saline minerality, a legacy of its granitic terroirs. Subtle notes of toasted almond, caramelized apple, honey, and marzipan are balanced by a fine touch of bitterness, leading into a long, dry, and chalky finish.

Other characteristics

This Spanish white wine shows a moderate alcohol level and a pH that ensures excellent freshness. It is an extremely limited edition for this vintage.

The mineral and saline expression of a white wine from Valdeorras

The estate

Founded in 2002 by Jorge Ordóñez, the estate is located in the village of Éntoma, in the heart of Galicia in Spain. Acquired in 2018 by a renowned historic Rioja family, the CVNE - Virgen del Galir estate is now managed by Victor and María Urrutia. The vineyard, spanning over 40 hectares, is run by a dynamic team including technical director Miguel Tienda. The estate stands out for its commitment to reviving forgotten indigenous grape varieties and preserving a historic high-altitude vineyard heritage, cultivated with the utmost respect for the environment.

The vineyard

The grapes come exclusively from the As Ermitas site, located in the Bibei Valley within the Valdeorras appellation. This singular terroir rises to 750 meters in altitude on century-old stone terraces facing southeast. The old vines, planted in the early 20th century (with some plots dating back to 1940), root deeply in poor, shallow soils composed of decomposed granite sands and quartz schist.

The vintage

The year 2021 was marked by both Atlantic and continental climatic influences. Late bud break, occurring at the end of April, led to a particularly slow growing cycle. The summer proved hot and dry, causing beneficial water stress that helped concentrate the berries’ aromas. Harvest took place late, during the first week of October.

Winemaking and ageing

For the production of this Sede e Fame Palomino 2021 cuvée, the winemaking process is particularly innovative. Whole bunches are pressed manually. The must then ferments spontaneously using indigenous yeasts in terracotta amphorae and traditional wooden "bota" casks. Extended ageing continues in these same vessels for exactly 24 months, imparting a saline texture and complex nuances (almond, balsamic) supported by lively acidity as well as a minerality rarely found in this appellation.

Grape variety

Palomino (100%), a grape variety associated with wines from southern Spain (such as Sherry).