RELATIONSHIPS
Albariño and maturation on lees: comparative points
Read geography, grape resources, and production processes separately.
Fermentation
Stainless steel + cement
Aging
3–6 months on the lees
This is a schematic diagram summarizing the main text. It does not represent production areas or quality rankings. Sources and reference materials
FIELD NOTE 01
Fermentation vessels for white wines.
The official materials for Albariño Reserva 2023 state that it is 100% Albariño and that fermentation takes place in both stainless steel and cement tanks. You should not expect the type of large cask aging used for the red Tannat to be applied to this white wine. Even within the same Reserva series, the vessels used change depending on the grape and the intended style.
FIELD NOTE 02
3–6 months on the lees
The maturation section lists 3–6 months with lees. Contact with the lees is a clue for considering texture, not a term referring to barrel-derived aromas. Since this material does not state how many times bâtonnage was done or the proportion of all containers, do not add assumptions such as how many times bâtonnage was performed.
FIELD NOTE 03
Interpreting 2023 figures
The alcohol content given in the documentation is 13.5%, residual sugar 3.4g/L, total acidity 6.5g/L, bottled in August 2023. Total acidity and pH are different scales and should not be put in the same field. When comparing to a Spanish Albariño, not just the commonalities like variety and marine influence, but also year, fermentation vessel, and lees aging duration should be checked for a deeper comparison.
Contact with the lees and the use of oak barrels are separate details. This example presents fermentation vessel and lees aging separately.
PAUSE & REFLECT
Check your understanding.
If a wine is labeled as 'aged on the lees,' does that always mean it has barrel aromas?
Read the explanation ＋
Contact with the lees and the use of oak barrels are separate details. This example presents fermentation vessel and lees aging separately.
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Sources and reference materials
These are the reference materials for the main text. For details of production regulations, consult the current documents. For individual wine specifications, refer to materials for the relevant vintage.
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