AS SORTES – Val do Bibei
Produced from grapes from our oldest vineyards: the six “sort” microsites, planted in the 1970s by local growers and acquired by Rafael Palacios between 2004 and 2007. They are located on the northern slope of the Valle Bibei, in Santa Cruz do Bolo, more than 680 meters above sea level. The plantings are a mix of Godello vines over 40 years old and old Godello clones that survived phylloxera and which we have rehabilitated to become productive again. The soils, rich in granite sand and not very fertile, favor very low yields, which gives the wines a remarkable geo-climatic character and a strong personality.
Viticulture is based on respect for tradition and the use of organic treatments, we use the biodynamic calendar for all our work in the vineyards. The must is fermented with indigenous yeasts in 500 liter French oak barrels, then aged for 8 months in barrels.
“As Sortes is endowed with a sense of joy, it has great aromatic intensity due to the expression of acidity – grapefruit, red apple, boxwood, chestnut blossom – and a beautiful minerality. Cool breezes and warm summer fruits meet halfway. Godello shows its best sweet and sour character, with an angular and cold attack, which becomes brighter, leaner and longer in the mid-palate until the finish, with an oily and warm mouth feel, reminiscent of pistachios and candied citrus fruits. The wine has great aging potential, you can begin to imagine it at maturity, after years of jovial youth it will mature with a powerful granite minerality.” Josep Roca