Pedra do Cribo Albariño Rías Baixas 2022

Albariño is “Spain’s best white by miles,” says Matthew Jukes, just one of many, many wine critics to rave about the Iberian wine—and we couldn’t agree more. Vintage after vintage, Master of Wine Norrel Robertson’s fresh, fruit-forward Pedra do Cribo Albariño is one of our favorite examples and we can’t wait for you to try it.

Norrel was born and raised in Scotland, but he’s lived in Spain for years. His aptly named winery, El Escocés Volante (‘The Flying Scotsman’), produces award-winning wines from Galicia to Andalucia, and has earned major international recognition.

He crafted this classic Albariño from grapes hand harvested in the premium Rías Baixas area. After a gentle crush, he allowed half the juice to go through malolactic fermentation, adding further complexity and a smooth mouthfeel. He then aged the wine sobre lias (aka sur lie, in French) for a generous 24 months, layering even more creamy complexity into your glass.

Named for the prehistoric Celtic carvings that dot the vineyards in Spain’s northwest corner (as well as Norrel’s native Scotland), Pedra do Cribo is an elegant white that displays a terrific balance of fruit and mouthwatering vibrance. Intense notes of lemon curd, peach preserves and honeysuckle greet you on the nose. Then waves of apricot, nectarine and green mango mingle with a trademark salty tang on the palate.

“I wanted to make an Albariño which stands out in terms of its purity and freshness that also has the capacity to age gracefully in the bottle for 5-10 years,” says Norrel.

Mission deliciously accomplished, Norrel. Don’t miss this classy Spanish white.