2024 Rafael Palacios Louro Godello

94 pts
Rafael Palacios |Galicia |Godello
Rafael Palacios uses high-altitude Galician granite terraces to craft a texturally driven, foudre-aged Godello that flips the script on conventional Spanish white wine.

Price:
Sale price$60.00
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In stock, ready to ship
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Description

Rafael Palacios has done more to elevate the reputation of Valdeorras than almost anyone else, working out of the tiny town of O Bolo high up in Galicia. He treats the local Godello grape with the sort of respect usually reserved for grand cru Burgundy, farming old terraced blocks planted in raw, eroded granite soils.

The 2024 vintage comes in at a generous 14% alcohol, but the sheer alpine coolness of these high-altitude sites stops it from ever feeling heavy. Rafa fermented the fruit with wild yeasts in massive 3,500-litre oak foudres, leaving the wine to rest on its lees for four months. This builds a supple texture that fleshes out the frame.

It has a distinct bay leaf and kitchen-herb aromatic lift, which makes sense given "Louro" translates to bay leaf in Galician. Behind that, you get a mouthful of pithy citrus fruit, crunchy yellow orchard apple, and a solid smack of briny, crushed-rock minerality. 

A sensational example of this much-loved style.

94 points
"A potency here, intensity of flavour, gravelly grip to texture, plushness of fruit... Serious wine, and quite compelling."
- Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)

94 points - "From the broader, notable wine family of Palacios, but a singular project from the eastern fronteir of Galicia. Bolo is the town, noted here for Rafael’s work rebuilding/building granite terraces on the hillsides he works with. Huge undertaking.

A potency here, intensity of flavour, gravelly grip to texture, plushness of fruit. Spicy elements laid on nashi pear, red apple, custard apple, citrus florals, sugared almonds and a crushed rock minerality underlying. Fuller in personality but has cut and thrust of freshness. Serious wine, and quite compelling." - Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)

93 points - "The nose is vibrant, revealing limes, grapefruit and a zesty, saline edge. The palate is linear and well composed, showing precision and freshness. Aged four months in stainless steel. From organically grown grapes. With 190,000 bottles produced, it demonstrates exceptional quality. Drink now." - Jacobo García Andrade (James Suckling)

Price Bracket $51 to $100
Type White
Body Full Bodied
Variety Godello
Country Spain
Region Galicia
Reviewed By The Wine Front
James Suckling
Critic Score 94
Size 750ml
Vintage 2024
Closure Cork

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