Bodegas Valdesil Pezas de Portela 2023

Wine Type:
Style of Wine:	Rich & Creamy
Country of Origin:	Spain
Wine Region:	Galicia
Appellation:	Valdeorras
Grape Varietal:	Godello
Bottle Format:	750mL
Case Size:	6 bottles
$453.54 Per Case ($75.59/btl)

Tasting Notes

Bodegas Valdesil can be traced back to 1885, when an ancestor of the Prada family (the current owners), planted the first Godello vines on the high, slate hillsides of the Sil valley. The winemaking traditions originate with José Ramón Gayoso, who, contrary to the custom of the time established the first vineyard planted entirely with the native Godello grape.

Little by little Gayoso expanded small parcels of vines, or ‘Pezas’, carefully choosing the best sites in and around the village of Portela de Valderroas. In subsequent years many of these parcels were sold to other growers, leaving only the Pedrouzos estate within the family. In 2001 the current generation of the family began to buy back the small parcels, spurred on by the potential for Godello, the special qualities of the Valdeorras region, and the hopes of the original pioneers who established Pedrouzos, the oldest Godello vineyard in Galicia.

From the 100 plus year old Pedrouzos vineyard, the family has been able to carry out their own clonal selection and adopt techniques such as managing plant cover. On our recent trip to the winery, we were amazed to see these old vines growing out of what appeared to be pure slate. It was actually quite difficult to walk between the rows of vines due to the pointy slate shards.

Thanks to a restored heritage and an excellent team of professionals, Bodegas Valdesil is producing elegant and distinctive wines with an unmistakable personality which reflects their origin and grape variety.

Pezas da Portela is made from a careful selection of 100% Godello grapes, from 11 unique plots ("pezas") from vines with an average of 50 years of age (all from cuttings from the original Pedrouzos clone), grown on hillside slopes, in slate-rich soil, at an altitude of 500 metres above sea level. The slate soils contribute a distinctive mineral character to the wine.

Harvest (by hand) and vinification is made by plot, to reflect the different expressions of the vineyard and with an understanding that each plot comes into ripeness at a different time. The yield is more than 30% below the Valdeorras average.

Following a short skin-contact maceration, the wine is fermented using indigenous yeasts in older French-oak barrels.. The wine is blended then aged for 6 months in wood - 2000L and 500L, on the lees, then racked into stainless steel tanks for a further 12 months prior to bottling. There is no malolactic fermentation; fining is with agents of mineral origin. Alc./vol. 13.7%; R.S. 3.7 gr./L.

Our tasting note: Bright yellow/gold colour; ripe aromas and flavours of warm citrus (grapefruit), apple, and pear with mineral-tinged notes of herbs, nuts, and vanilla spice. Dry and medium-bodied, with balancing acidity and a long, rich, full finish.

Best served at 11-13c, and consider even decanting the wine to display its full potential. With careful cellaring it will develop well for 3-5 years.

Recommended pairings: Fish (fresh and saltwater) and richer shellfood -- lobster and scallops -- as well as grilled chicken and fuller-flavoured vegetarian dishes.

Critical Praise