Wines of the Week - Lip-Smacking Spanish Whites - [Michael] Todd and I traveled to NYC last month for a very important Summit.  No, not at the United Nations…this one was for Spanish wine, of course!

Spain’s star is rising, and not just in soccer and basketball  - (that gold-medal game was a bit too close for comfort!) -  and they are crafting some of my favorite white wines on the planet.

There were two big takeaways for us on the white wine front: one, Albarino deserves a spot at the top of the world’s white varietal hierarchy, for its amazing concentration and complexity.

And two, we learned that Godello, a grape we’ve prized for its freshness and verve, improves markedly with a little time in bottle.   We revisited a top-seller from last year and were in complete agreement that the wine is altogether fuller, richer, and more complete than when we carried it before! Who knew? Well, we do now!

We stepped up and bought a big chunk of each, but with the deal our buddy Patrick, owner of Ole Imports, is giving us – and we are extending to you – these might not last long!  Arriving Thursday, please reply to order:

Columna Albarino 2011 – reg. $15.99 – Deals below – This wine is made by Rodrigo Mendez.  Who?  Well, he just happens to be the right-hand man to Raul Perez, one of the world’s most sought-after winemakers. Raul has made the highest rated Albarinos ever… from Rodrigo’s vineyards. Ya think Rodrigo just might have learned a thing or two? Well... um… heck yeah!

The vines were planted in 1978 – a great year, I might add, as it gave birth to me! They’re located in the Condado de Tea subzone, the southernmost in Rias Baixas and furthest from the Atlantic. Less rainfall and a slightly warmer climate result in a fuller, richer expression of Albarino.

The aim here is to focus on the unique micro-climate and terroir, combining the riper fruits from warm temperatures with a stunning mineral component from the granite-based soils, finishing with a delightful slate-driven acidity. Fragrant floral aromas explode from the glass, rose petal and peach blossom, followed by intense, concentrated flavors of Meyer lemon, apricot, and white peaches. The finish is clean and mineral-laced, with vibrant acidity, making this an incredibly versatile food wine. This is a classic pairing with any spicy shellfish dish, my vote would be some steamed mussels in a smoked-paprika broth, yum!

I can honestly say I’ve never had an Albarino at this price that has impressed me as much…

Papa Godello 2010 – reg. $15.99 - Godello is one of those varietals that has a lot of street cred among wine geeks, and with its ability to communicate its place of origin in addition to beautiful fruit, many Spanish vintners believe may be the grape that puts Spanish whites “on the map.”  This has traditionally been a home-run for us, made by an estate in Valdeorras that uses only the top 20% of its grapes to make this wine.  Usually it sells out in a hurry and we never get beyond the tart, zingy green apple and citrus fruit it shows in its youth, so this was a rare opportunity to sample some after a year+ in bottle.

Wow! Quite an eye opener for us, as we typically are looking for super-young whites in this category. Man, am I glad we kept an open mind.

While still crisp and clean, the wine has fleshed out, offering rich, round tropical melon and ripe apricot fruits on top of juicy lime flavors.  There’s also anise, fresh herb, and a saline mineral quality running throughout. The finish is rich and round, giving it enough weight to move beyond the traditional light fish or salad pairings.  Grilled trout, pan-fried pork sausages, or a good ole oyster po’boy, there are pairings galore for this beauty of a wine, now hitting its stride!

The Deal

For a mixed case, we’ll knock off 30%, making it $11.19 net per bottle!  We purchased equal amounts, so the default is 6 of each, but if you’d like a different mix please just let us know.

On a six pack, we'll knock 22% off - $12.47 per bottle. Why 22% Because that means you are paying 78% of the regular... get it? 78? My birth year? C'mon folks... stay with me... Again the default would be equal amounts but we can do a custom mix.

Why would you want anything less? No room in the fridge? Okay… less than six bottles and I’ll knock 15% off the price

Click here to order.