Albarino Blend
Santiago Ruiz Blanco 2004
Here is another blend from Rias Brixas, this time a mix of 70% albarino, 20 loureiro and 10% treixadura. Funky packaging seems to be important to the people of this region, the label on the front of this bottle is a copy of a hand drawn map of how to get to the owner's daughter wedding.
This is the most expensive white wine from Spain I have had, transport, taxes etc put it into the $50 level. You can get some great wines, red or white, for $50…no wonder I had to order it in.
Citrus, peach flowers and herbs on the nose. Very serious in the mouth, oily and textured with a good acid level. Flavours of lemons, apple, minerals, fennel seeds and bay leaf. The finish is very long with a citrus and bay leaf tang. This shows what these blends from Rias Brixas can do, value for money in Australia is an issue however. 91 Pts.
Source: Boccaccio Cellars Price: Around $50 Closure: Conventional Cork
Web: www.bodegasantiagoruiz.com
Discussion
5 comments for “Santiago Ruiz Blanco 2004”
Post a comment
Recent Comments
- Dave Worthington on Faustino VII 2006
- Justin Roberts on Faustino VII 2006
- rm on Alvaro Castro Dão Tinto 2007
- Dave Worthington on Alvaro Castro Dão Tinto 2007
- rm on Alvaro Castro Dão Tinto 2007
Dave,
It looks like a beautiful label.
Any chance of a close up photo?
I should have the full size still, I’ll email it to you.
Yep, this is good, and a beautiful label. I sprung for a bunch of these, and the price point pushed the value down a bit, but it’s quality albarino in trad blending mode. That varietal mix is fairly common in the blended albarino’s from Rias Baixas.
Sonds very interesting shaggy. quality label. This is a 2004, how long do you think it will hold together?
Thanks for the comments guys. This is a quality wine and very well packaged. If you are an albarinisto, this would be right up your alley, but the price makes me look twice. At around 30-35 I wouldn’t think about the price at all.
From what I can find out 2004 was a good vintage, but it was a record vintage in terms of volume. This should be good for at least 5-6 year I would think, I’m not sure what it will develop into. I’m experimenting with cellaring albarino after reading the Penin guide, but it will be a couple of years before I find out what good albarino and/or blends look like with age.