Forjas Del Salnes Leirana Albarino

The Mendez family are tightly woven into the fabric of Galician wine. The family operate the Rias Baixas old-guard winery, Do Ferreiro. In the 1970’s, when most grape growing were grubbing up vines in favour of the increasingly popular Albariño, they recommitted to the region's indigenous grape varieties. In 2005 Rodrigo Mendez, keen to revitalize parcels of old vines, created Forjas del Salnés. The winery was named after the ironworks set up by his grandfather, Francisco Méndez. His mission was to replant the nearly extinct red grape varieties of the Val do Salnes, and bottle white wines in tune with Galicia’s traditional winemaking culture. Thanks to his connections, he was able to discover some exceptionally old abandoned Albariño vines. To aid him in his quest, Rodrigo is joined at Forjas del Salnés by famed winemaker Raúl Pérez. These wines manage to capture lightning in a bottle, and successfully showcase the heights that traditional Galician wines can reach.

The Leirana is made from Albariño grapes harvested from vines planted between 1952 and 1982. Located close to the Atlantic Ocean, the vines are situated only 5 meters above sea level. Naturally fermented with indigenous yeasts, the wine was aged in a combination of steel tank and neutral foudre. To best showcase Albariño’s natural acidity, malolactic fermentation was avoided. Pale straw-green in hue, this sharply focused white wine expresses precise notes of Meyer lemon, quinine, crushed stone, and salty sea air. The palate is dry and tightly strung with zesty acidity.