Vineyards and winemaking
Sobre Lías is sourced from Maior de Mendoza's oldest Albariño vineyards near the sea in the Val do Salnés. The vines are trained on pergolas over granite-sandy soils, with wide, ventilated rows and manual cultivation; the estate has avoided herbicides for more than 30 years.
The 2023 grapes were picked by hand, chilled and given brief cold skin contact before a temperature-controlled fermentation with the vineyard's indigenous yeasts. Three months on fine lees in stainless steel, with regular bâtonnage, added volume and stability without diminishing the clarity of the fruit.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Brilliant pale straw with green glints and the faintest natural prickle.
Nose
White blossom, tangerine and fresh lime meet peach, pear and lychee, with a soft lees-derived note adding depth beneath the bright, aromatic fruit.
Palate
Lively and finely textured, with citrus and ripe white fruit framed by mouth-watering acidity. Lees ageing gives a creamy middle and gentle volume, while the finish remains long, balanced and saline, recalling the wine's Atlantic setting.
Food pairing
Serve with oysters, grilled prawns, lemon sole or rice with squid and peas. Its clean acidity is also excellent with goat's cheese, ceviche or a lightly spiced noodle salad dressed with lime and coriander.
Background story
Maior de Mendoza grew from the Barros family's far-sighted investment in Albariño during the 1970s. The winery overlooks Carril and the Ría de Arousa, and its sustainably managed vineyards include some of the family's original plantings from before Rías Baixas became a formal denomination.
The estate pioneered commercial Albariño labelled Sobre Lías within Rías Baixas, using fine-lees contact to give the variety greater texture and longevity without sacrificing freshness. The 2023 is the clearest expression of that signature method: precise, aromatic and unmistakably maritime.
