Wines

93 Points! The young and tender 2022 Albariño is the blend of the grapes from 165 plots in the Salnés, fermented with a pied de cuve from the old vines, fermented in stainless steel and matured with lees. It has a balsamic nose with notes of grass and bay leaf, a round palate with pungent flavors and good acidity. It's clean and varietal, reflecting a warmer year. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

From the importer: The domaine’s top red wine is the cuvée Charles de Batz, which was the original name of d'Artignan. The wine is composed of 90% Tannat with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon from vines that are between 50 and 100 years old. After being completely destemmed, the Cabernet and Tannat are fermented separately in cement tanks. During this time, a bit of micro-oxygenation or microboullage takes place. The wine then goes into oak (50% new) in an underground cellar where it also undergoes malolactic fermentation. After 12 months in wood, it is blended and bottled after a very light filtration.

Very ripe, rich Madiran that takes no prisoners. This wine succeeds in obtaining more fruit than tannin! The color is nearly opaque—wine doesn't get much darker than this. It displays notes of black fruit (blackcurrant and blackberry) along with just a hint of red fruit. There is a cedar-like creaminess to the oak which is extremely well-integrated. Tannins pick up on the finish but, let's face it, this is Madiran and that is to be expected. These tannins seem to dissolve when the wine is matched with richly flavored meats like leg of lamb, duck, goose or game.

93 Points! The gentler 2022 Leirana reflects a warmer year of rounder wines and slightly lower acidity. They are increasing the amount of oak, and eventually, this could end up being 100% in (used and large) foudres, but the wines don't show any oak. They blended all the wines before they are put in foudre, and they feel it results in better integration of the wine. This represents the Salnés region of Rías Baixas with the salty and tasty marine and granite twist. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

94 Points! The 2022 Cíes is a faithful reflection of the warmer year with rounder wines and more integrated acidity. It's tender and balanced, with a silky texture and a clean finish. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

91 Points! A bright lemon colour with green hues in the glass, this Albariño showcases bright fruit plus refreshing acidity. The fruit is lean: citrus, green fruit, then moving into stone fruit. Salinity and brininess on the palate call for seared scallops or shrimp. Any freshly grilled seafood with a squeeze of lemon would accentuate the wine’s acidity and make for a pleasant pairing. - Decanter Magazine

96 Points! The 2021 Sálvora is serious and austere, young and undeveloped, a wine of purity and precision. It comes from a very old vineyard in the village of Meaño, and unfortunately, the 2023 will be the last vintage of this wine because the vineyard will be expropriated. It has a vibrant palate with an intense finish, very salty and tasty. It has a moderate 12% alcohol with notable freshness but with the advantage of the time in bottle that gave it more complexity and nuance. It fermented and matured in 600-liter oak barrels for 12 months. 2,000 bottles produced. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

94 Points! Extremely perfumed with violet and blueberry aromas that follow through to a full body with creamy, refined tannins. Wonderful depth, due to the compact fruit and vertical line of tannins. Black pepper to the dark fruit. Better in two or three years. Try after 2022. - JamesSuckling.com

91 Points! A full-bodied red with aromas of black cherries, blackcurrants, violets and black licorice. Tannic and chewy with a firm core of dark fruit. Try from 2023. - JamesSuckling.com

91 Points! The 2022 Alvarinho "Granit" is an unoaked Alvarinho. It is dry and comes in at 12.9% alcohol. Unfortunately, due to shipping problems, I was not able to taste all of the winery's submissions for this report together, but they were still tasted within a couple of weeks of each other. This seems like the best of the group. Opening well on the fruit-forward side, this was pretty delicious on first pour, but it also shows some structure to go with that nice fruit. It is not the nerviest Granit ever, but it is beautifully done, fresh and focused, with the structure nicely supporting that fruit. I wasn't sure if it had enough energy, but it blossomed when retasted the next day. I loved the juicy finish and its "dance across the tongue" demeanor. This may not be one of those old-school Soalheiros that seems to last forever, but it should still age reasonably, perhaps better than indicated. At the beginning of the drinking window, it drinks great now, but it can still improve a little. - Mark Squires, robertparker.com