SMITH & SHETH CRU ALBARIÑO 2025

Winery notes (2025 Vintage)
"A fantastic season for white varieties. The combination of particularly low rainfall through the spring and summer months, along with mild / palatable temperatures throughout the growing season marked by warm days and cool nights allowed for fruit full of flavour and balanced acidity.

Lovely golden straw colour. Nose is quite discrete initially but evolves to the classic array of ripe golden peaches, lime meadows and yellow flowers. Wonderful, sweet nectarine entry, then a pure line of Lisbon lemon and salt with a rich almost almond biscuit crumb with a long steely finish.

100% hand-harvested and whole-bunch pressed to tank (35%) and French oak barrels (65%), of which 14% were new. 44% indigenous fermentation and 44% malolactic fermentation. 11 months in barrel on lees before being blended to tank in December 2025 . The wine was gently racked and filtered prior to bottling in January 2026."

Rated Excellent & 94/100 Cameron Douglas MS, June 2026 (2025 Vintage)
"A great bouquet filled with scents of the seaside and ripe peaches laced with citrus and and sandy soil ideas. Crisp and textured with acidity and lees combining to layer in mouthfeel and surrounding the fresh fruit flavours of peaches and lemon, cape gooseberry and yellow plum. Varietal and new, refreshing and saline with best drinking from late 2026 through 2030."