Barrialto “Santa Brigida”
SANLÙCAR DE BARRAMEIDA, SPAIN | 2020
This rare Spanish white wine boasts phenomenal complexity, making it a perfect addition to your dining room table for pairing with multiple cuisines. I like to refer to these kinds of wines as "brooding" as they captivate the senses with their intriguing flavors and multi-faceted depth leaving you to wonder what in the hell just happened to your taste buds!
Rafael Rodríguez is the visionary winemaker behind the micro-winery Barrialto - inconspicuously housed in a converted historic tavern nestled within Andalucia's renowned Sherry region. With a heritage rooted in three generations of grape growers in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Rafael (affectionately known as Rafa) is leading an exciting evolution in unfortified white wines from the region. He meticulously tends to old, low-yielding palomino vines, defying prevailing norms in the area.
Barrialto's limited production - mere hundreds of bottles - reflects Rafa's meticulous craftsmanship and profound respect for Sanlúcar's winemaking heritage. As these wines journey to the US market in extremely small quantites, they offer enthusiasts a rare opportunity to experience the essence of this magical region - a journey Rafa proudly undertakes as a Mayetero (a local term denoting a dedicated viticulturist who handcrafts his own wines).
The "Santa Brigida" wine, bottled from a single 500 liter barrel, blends palomino grapes from two distinct soil sub-types of Jerez's ancient chalky albariza soils. Hand-harvested grapes undergo fermentation in ex-Manzanilla sherry casks, followed by nine months of aging on fine lees and an additional 18 months in bottle. The result is an exquisite wine that quietly whispers the secrets of Jerez with subtle nuttiness complementing bright citrus and bitter orange flavors, culminating in a robust herbal and salty finish. Designed to pair with food, it will complement salty Manchego cheese, pork chops roasted with a rosemary and thyme crust, or a hearty fish stew. It’s a wine that easily transitions across the board, so be playful!