2016 Zarate Albarino El Palomar
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Tasting notes
It's always fascinating to taste two vintages of the same wine, as I had with the 2016 Albariño El Palomar, which I tasted next to the 2017. These wines change with time in bottle and they seem to have their ups and downs. This 2016 showed a spicy and smoky twist from its time in oak, something that is not common but might happen at some points during its life. If I favored the Balado 2016 over the 2017, when it comes to El Palomar, I found more finesse in the 2017. 2,600 bottles produced. It was bottled in August 2018.
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Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
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El Palomar is a 0.36 ha plot where centenary vines of Albariño settle on one of the oldest estates documented in Rías Baixas. Hand-harvested grapes go through a sorting table before destemming. Long and soft pressing in order to get low yields. Fermentation took place in 2,200-litre French oak foudres, no racking until malolactic conversion (started spontaneously). Matured for three months on its fine lees. Zárate is a family estate located in Meaño, Val do Salnés. Vineyards are surrounding a 'Pazo' (traditional Galician house), built in the sixteenth century and restored during the eighteenth century. Their history began in 1707, seven generations later, the tradition continues in the hands of Eulogio Pomares who has been in charge since 2000. In the 1950s, Zárate was a pioneer of Albariño. Tasted blind. It is really refreshing but it does not lose its depth and intensity. It has a mineral expression and lots of delicate citrus notes, intense and tight on the palate and well supported by a touch of creaminess. Very expressive and lively. It has a promising future and I would love to see it again in the next two or three years. (FC)