Description
Terras Gauda La Mar Caíño 2021 is produced in the Rías Baixas region of north eastern Spain from rare native white grape variety Caíño Branco (98%) with a touch of Albariño and Loureiro (2%). There is so much going on in a glass of this lovely crisp white wine – plenty of aromatics of ripe stone fruits and tropical fruits, dried herbs and blossom. And just as much excitement on the palate with apricots, subtle pineapple, melon and hints of cream, honey and minerality. Caíño Branco also known as Caíño Blanco is a very delicate grape with a long ripening season but, if looked after well, the wait is worth it as its wines display many aromas and flavours including pineapple and passion fruit, structure from its high acidity and mineral notes. The grape is known to be adept at illustrating the terroir. The vineyards have a unique microclimate that is warm with very little frost or heavy rainfall and the slate schist adds to the minerality of the wine. Though a small percentage of the blend, the Albariño grape brings fruity aromas to Terras Gauda La Mar Caíño 2021 and adds to the rounded feel whilst Loureiro adds some floral notes. Lots of characteristics that make the perfect combination in this amazing white wine. For an equally amazing wine form the same region, try Sal da Terra Albariño.
Terras Gauda La Mar Caíño 2021 has a really smooth, rounded feel in the mouth from the wine’s lees ageing – not from any oak – and a citric zippiness cuts through any richness from the ripe fruits. This acidity means that the wine should keep for a number of years, if you can resist opening it!
Bodegas Terras Gauda is bigger than many of the wineries whose wines Wines With Attitude stocks but its ethos is very much in line with ours, producing “the highest quality wines with unique personalities, using noble varieties grown in ideal conditions and vinified according to the area’s tradition, crafted with the most advanced technology and the utmost care.” And that ethos certainly shows in this wine, recommended to me by a very good customer. So popular was the 2020 vintage of Terras Gauda La Mar that I quickly ran out but the 2021 vintage is equally lovely.