Xanledo 2019

I love the perfumed, floral and elegant nose of the red 2019 Xanledo, which has the peppery and herbal notes of the Caíño Longo (60%) and the finesse of Brancellao (40%) picked at perfect ripeness in this very good vintage for reds in the Ribeiro zone (although after the 2017 and skipping the 2018, this wine is sold without appellation of origin as a generic Vino de España). The grapes come, of course, from his 12-year-old vineyard on sandy sábrego (decomposed granite) soils that transmit the essence of the soil to the wine. It's light and fresh, with 12% alcohol and notable acidity and freshness. It matured in barrel for 10 months, but the oak is unnoticeable, despite the use of some 20% new barrels. This is one very elegant red from the zone. 4,500 bottles were filled in January 2021.