Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Bodegas As Laxas — Val do Sosego Godello
Rías Baixas, Galicia, Spain 🇪🇸

Overview
A fascinating 100% Godello from Rías Baixas, an appellation overwhelmingly associated with Albariño. That alone makes this an intriguing departure, but what really impresses is the combination of freshness, substance, and character—a different side of Atlantic Galicia in the glass.

Aromas & Flavors
Yellow apple, ripe pear, quince, lemon peel, and delicate stone fruit lead the profile, with subtle floral and mineral nuances underneath. Refreshing without relying on the overt tropical character often associated with many Rías Baixas whites.

Mouthfeel
Bone dry, energetic, and beautifully balanced, with lively acidity wrapped around a surprisingly substantial texture. There is real presence through the mid-palate and a clean, persistent finish that makes it dangerously easy to keep pouring.

Food Pairings
Grilled octopus, scallops, white fish, shrimp, seafood rice, roasted chicken, or simply good conservas. Its combination of acidity and texture makes this extremely versatile at the table.

Verdict
An impressive and decidedly different Galician white. Refreshing enough for casual drinking, yet the yellow-fruit profile, texture, and structure give it considerably more personality than a straightforward thirst-quencher.

Did You Know?
Godello is much more strongly associated with Galicia’s Valdeorras appellation, while Rías Baixas has built its international reputation around Albariño. That makes seeing “Godello” and “Rías Baixas” together on a label particularly unusual—and part of what makes this bottle so interesting.

🍷 Personal Pick
This one is soaring among my favorite Spanish whites. I love that it doesn’t follow the expected tropical-fruit script: yellow fruits, bone-dry freshness, balanced acidity, and a terrific mouthfeel give it its own identity. Deliciously, and dangerously good. — 12 days ago

Amy

9.1

had at puritan julia child, fresh delicate lovely sauv b — 2 months ago

romo

9.1

Likely the top QBR this year. - at Archer — 4 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Actually a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (77%), Merlot (12%), Malbec (5%), Cabernet Franc (4%) Petite Verdot (2%). Dark ruby color with some purple highlights. Aroma of ripe black fruit, violets, cedar and burnt caramel. Flavors of black berry/currant/plum fruit, black tea, savory herbs and spices. Lingering finish, plush, well balanced with fine grained tannins. Solid value. Enjoyed at Thyme Rooftop Restaurant with Keith S! — 5 months ago

Wulf Losee

9.3

Floral notes on the nose — roses, hibiscus, plus mint, and the dry fragrance of sun-bleached wood. Strawberries on the front. Medium tannic structure. Black tea high notes with hint mint on the mid palate. Citrusy finish with long acidic afterburn. My description fails in that it makes it sound like a light and floral wine. But taken altogether, this is wine is rock solid, and it hasn’t even begun to develop. — 10 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.2

Light garnet color. Very interesting nose and palate of red fruits, rose petals, dried herbs, black tea, bergamot and sweet baking spices. Hint of eucalyptus on the long, complex and earthy finish. Smooth tannins. Lively, bright and very well balanced. Nice concentration for a light bodied wine. Excellent! — 2 years ago

Big Wave Dave

9.3

Beautiful, balanced, elegant. Salty, lemon, and not too floral. Creamy and long. — 18 days ago

Todd Scurci

9.0

#brunellodimontalcino — a month ago

with Annie

Kristen Grimes

9.8

Soft tree fruit aromas, mouthwatering, lemon zesty, salt aftertaste that lingers on the tongue.
My favorite from Albariño class! Perfect pairing with orange shrimp, rice, and summer veggies! — 2 months ago

Mark Mannebach

9.1

Minerality, flint, floral and orange/citrus tones — 3 months ago

Austin Hohnke

9.2

Purple, ruby, hint of garnet. Amazing tobacco leaf and spice profile. Drinking beautifully. — 5 months ago

Alan Weinberg

9.2

V22 in a small Portland OR restaurant. Delicious. — 6 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Nearly 20 years in bottle. It is still ascending will drink well for another 15 days plus years.

From a warm vintage. Beautiful, even toned fruits with elegant earth & amazing lead pencil bloom for days.

This is approaching its peak, another 5 years from its peak.

Well resolved wine-fruits. The fruits are juicy, blackberries, black raspberries, plum skin, dark cherries & slightly, poached strawberries with a highlight of pomegranate. Mocha, dark chocolate, black tea, sandalwood, sandstone, limestone, some mushroom notes, dark, rich turned earth w/ dry leaves, dry tobacco, dry leather, dry herbs, dry stone, caramel notes, dry, withering, dark, purple & red flowers with excellent acidity, balance, tension, structure and finish for days that lasts 90 seconds. — 2 years ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.4

Very very pretty. Delicate green fruit, a confectionary quality. Subtle and delicate. Very young but seductive already. — 4 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Light golden color. Reserved aromas of orchard, tropical and citrus fruit, sea spray and a hint of fresh cut grass. Flavors of green apple, white peach, lemon/lime and nectarine fruit. Noticeable mineral note on the long and bright finish. Slightly creamy texture (lees aging?) and crisp acidity. Opens up nicely with a little aeration. Straightforward and solid, but not overly complex. Best with food. — a month ago

Martijn

9.3

Time does this wine well. — a month ago

with Eric

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I recently had a conversation with a few Joseph Phelps Ambassador’s at Pebble Beach Food & Wine in April. I said, I had every vintage of Insignia back to 2006 in storage. They said, “you should really drink up the 2006.” So, I coravined an 06 last weekend, a taste. I agreed then. But tonight not the case, it shows it still has a fair amount of life. Another 5-8 yrs and perhaps plus.

My Ribcap, a definition of Medium Rare Plus.

The nose reveals floral; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, dark cherries and blue fruit notes. Melted dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, softly layered baking spices, very underrated graphite, steeped tea, mid berry cola, red licorice, limestone powder, dry top soil, dry twig, red, dark candied to slightly withering florals w/ liquid violet cola.

The palate shows well resolved, rounded, velvety M+ tannins. Nicely ripe fruits that are floral; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, dark cherries and blue fruit notes. Melted dark chocolate, mocha, caramel river, softly layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanillin, warm caramel, dark Asian spices with palate burrowing heat, dry tobacco/ leather, cedar, grilled meats, very underrated graphite, sweet tarriness, black licorice, steeped tea, mid berry cola, red licorice, limestone powder, dry top soil, dry twig, red, dark candied to slightly withering florals w/ liquid violet cola, candied to withering; dark, red, blue florals wrapped in liquid violets, epic rainfall acidity, well balanced-structured-toned, elegant finish that lasts minutes and falls on earth & heated spice.

95-96 peaking. — 2 months ago

bitsof

9.3

Beautiful minerality — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a straw color; medium viscosity with no signs of particles or gas. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tropical fruit, lemon citrus, white and yellow flowers, and slivered almond. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and creamy, leesy. Ooof…another neutral white.

Initial conclusions: this could be Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Gris from France or the United States. There is no oak (possibly neutral oak but I think it’s lees contact). So I’m going with my gut and calling this Chardonnay, France, Burgundy, Chablis, 2022. Ha! Patrick Piuze is a Chablis producer but this wine uses grapes outside of the zone, hence the Bourgogne Blanc designation. Tricky wine but I’ll take it. Drink now through 2033. — 8 months ago

Laura Purdy

9.0

Lots of citrus and acid. Still don’t love the price point. — 2 years ago