I emailed an acquaintance who is bringing a new Riesling to market soon and I asked him his opinion of Albarino wines since they were described to me as "Riesling clones". I thought I'd share a bit of what I wrote to him about a Rias Baixas we recently tasted (y'know, so I can, like, officially have tasting notes on here ... use at your own risk). Now - I realize that Rias Baixas is the region, but I unfortunately disposed of the bottle and cannot recall the name of the vineyard. Sorry! I'll update if it turns out my wife rescued the bottle by chance.
UPDATE: The winery is Condes de Albarei
Have you tasted Albarino wine (Spain)? In my reading about it I find the grape described as a "Riesling clone" (which seems all the more obvious since "Albarino" apparently translates to "the white from the Rhine"). I figured that in your quest you may have happened across it.
We have a bottle of Condes de Albarei (Rias Baixas region) Albarino which is quite good for a $20-ish wine. It seems a little bitter in comparison to the Rieslings I've tasted, and I could swear there's some sparkle to it. Pretty low in alcohol, but the astringency makes it seem "hotter". The nose is pleasant (my 6-year-old said it "smells like the ocean" which she's never smelled, but I think she's right!), and on the palate it's not tremendously exciting, though I thought it tasted of pears and maybe a little melon. The finish was a tad short and flat and a tiny bit disappointing, though I wouldn't say ruinous. In fact, I actually found this to be awkwardly satisfying in this extreme heat we're having. So I guess only drink it in Las Vegas or Tucson or on the surface of the Sun (like here in Chicago).
I definitely prefer the Rieslings I've had over this example of Albarino (the first and only I've tasted), but it was a pleasant alternative I think is a good summer wine - it went very well with breaded Tilapia and broccolini... and brownies a la mode.
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