Valdeorras
As Sortes is Rafael Palacios`s flagship white, named after the lots (‘sortes’) cast locally to determine vineyard inheritance. It is made from fruit sourced from six plots planted in the late 1970s and early 1980s. These are some of the oldest vineyards owned by Rafael Palacios, located in Santa Cruz do Bolo on the north side of the Bibei Valley. The soils are pure granite sand with low fertility. Combined with an elevation of over 680 metres above sea level, this results in low yields and wines that reflect a true sense of place. 2023 saw a warm, dry vintage here, with well-timed rains, and it led to very high quality fruit. After gentle pressing, the must was fermented with indigenous yeasts in 500-litre French oak barrels. The wine aged on its lees for an additional eight months in barrel before bottling. (NT 14/05/25)
- Producer
- Rafael Palacios
- Origin
- Valdeorras, Galicia, Spain SPAIN
- Colour
- white
- Wine Style
- dry
- Dominant Grape
- Godello
- Farming Style
- organic
- Maturity
- drink or keep
- Bottle Size
- 75cl
- Case Quantity
- 6
- Alcohol
- 14.5%
- Wine Score
- 96 points, Luis Gutierrez, vinous.com, July 2025
18 points, Ferran Centelles, jancisrobinson.com, August 2025
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- Buy Duty Paid
- Buy In Bond
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OrderPrice inc Add to Basket Unit 75cl 6 6 - £66.950Case 6x75cl 1 1 - £347.120Stock in
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Media Reviews
Luis Gutierrez
The 2023 As Sortes reminded me of the 2021 vintage. It`s perfumed, elegant and harmonious, with ripeness, elegance and freshness, with 14% alcohol and superb acidity that make it balanced and lifted up. It comes from six small vineyards ("sorte" locally) planted at the end of the 1970s and 1980s on the north face of the Bibei Valley at 680 meters above sea level on sandy granite soils that give the wine finesse and elegance. It fermented in 500-liter French oak barrels with indigenous yeasts and matured in those barrels with the fine lees for eight months. There`s a sense of purity and precision that I like very much, while the texture has very fine granularity. It`s very tasty and clean. 23,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2024. 96 points
Ferran Centelles
It had been far too long since I last tasted As Sortes – my memories go back to the elBulli days, 14 years ago. Back then, it was a powerful, toasty and creamy wine. Today, it shows a completely different profile: mineral, chalky, crystalline and pure. Its acidity is strikingly saline, with great tension and finesse. It unfolds beautifully – long, sharp and precise. I’m truly impressed by the subtlety and clarity of this wine. A stony, steely finish. Undoubtedly one of the world’s great white wines. 18 points
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