Leirana, Areas de Arra 2018Forjas del Salnés - 75 cl.

The Albariño I previously tasted as 2017 Leirana Arenales de Arra was finally released as 2017 Leirana Areas de Arra, the same name but in Gallego language, and it was only released in September 2021. The 2018 Leirana Areas de Arra might be released in September 2022, but I had the chance to taste it since it was bottled in September 2019. They want to release it with three years in bottle. The 2017 has been priced quite high and has caused some stir in the local Spanish market. This comes from one of the few places that has sand dunes by the beach and produces very fine-grained wines that are elegant and subtle. This is subtler and more elegant than the initial 2017, combining depth and concentration with finesse. This comes from the same plot as the 2017, planted mostly with centenary ungrafted vines (there are some younger pants that are grafted). The must from the destemmed grapes was let to settle for one day and put into a 1,500-liter oak foudre to ferment with indigenous yeasts, where the wine matured with the lees for 12 months. The wine feels young and a little austere, undeveloped and in need of some more time in bottle. The mouthfeel is very stony and fresh...