Rafael Palacios is the brother of Spain’s leading winemaker Alvaro Palacios. Rafael has headed to the green north-west Atlantic-influenced vines of the DO of Valdeorras. The jewel here is the white variety Godello. Sandy soils with granite substratum allied to historical terraced vineyards add up to hard work, small yields and a concomitant high level of quality. They work with over 20 tiny parcels scattered around the region, with vines ranging up to almost 100 years in age.
The young white 2023 Louro is dense, ripe, and powerful. It’s pungent and intense, with a bitter twist in the finish. It’s very tasty with lots of dense stone fruit and super ripe citrus with wafts of fennel. There’s an almost salty precision, combining texture, freshness, and elegance from aging on the lees. This is an impressive wine with lots of go.
Raphael converts all this vineyards to organic.