Albarino

Jul 11, 2004 7 Replies
R

Last night went to my mother-in-law for some comfort food. My wife actually made the food since Dorine (her mother) is recovering from hip replacement surgery. I am not a wine snob, but I am very tired of NZ Sauvignon Blanc and Cali Chards. So I brought Souto Major Albarino (12 USD). It was perfect with a fleshy, fatter chunk of fish. Very slate and chalk. A nice kick in the butt with acid. A perfect wine.



But the big story in my little, happy life is that my wife will take a month breather from Chard, and will try my white recs. And since we eat much lighter foods in the warmer weather, this should be fun.



But we do like chicken wrapped in Napa lettuce with Chalk Hill chard.. One of my few indulgences.



Will report back.



Rich R.


-- The journey is the reward.


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R

replacement

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K

Sorry, no. Albarino and Viognier are two different grapes.

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S

replacement

Hi Richr

Albarino (forgive spelling): a Chardy drinker's....white(?). If I had to give up Chardonnaay then this'd be top drop on my list as a replacement. AKA Viognier, I think. And known for acidity, a bit like Chardonnay in fact :-).

All the best to Dorine btw.

regards Sammy

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L

True, albarino and viognier are two different grapes. But roussanne and viognier are the same (sometimes). :-)

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S

Oh yes! Dunno where that came from....they can taste pretty similar though :-).

regards Sammy

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M

Sammy, Have you ever tried any dry Rieslings from Australia or NZ? To me, they bear the greatest similarity to the Albariños I've had. When I mentioned that at a Spanish wine tasting a year or two ago, the (Spanish) woman seated next to me said that there is some claim that Albariño is a relative of Riesling (haven't checked that claim myself).

Mark Lipton

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S

thanks for your message.

I have tried lots of Australian and a few NZ Rieslings. However, I haven't tasted more than a few Albarinos but I can just about imagine what you mean.

I'll make some more effort but with the price of Albarinos and most Aus. wine getting expensive for the (imo) not good ones, I'll find it hard to stray from German Rieslings and lovely, cheap, French Viognier. Which ain't Albarino but similar :-).

Just a thought: if Albarino is 'linked' to Riesling it might only do Portuguese and Spanish producers harm. Not much kudos for Rieslings here al UK.

regards Sammy

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