Bodegas y Viñedas Merayo Godello 2022

Merayo Godello is made from 100% Godello grapes; a wine that needs to be discovered. If you enjoy Albariño, this is a must-try wine. it has pronounced but subtle nectarine, greengage and apple aromas with citrus and fennel hints. The flavours are layered and complex, ranging from nectarine, white peach to hints of pears and there is definite minerality here. Merayo Godello has a lovely full palate with a sensation of freshness, an excellent mouthfeel, terrific length with harmonious balance. The 2022 vintage is ready to drink from Autumn 2023 and will be drinking well through to 2025.

We were pleased to see this terrific review of the 2021 vintage from Jancis Robinson MW:

” Very pure nose with good acidity and very promising structure. Still quite youthful but impressively long. VGV at £12.99!  16.5/20 Drink 2022 – 2024: jancisrobinson.com April 2022″

The grapes for this wine come from old bush vines and following fermentation in stainless steel it has been aged “sur lie” for four months before bottling. Older vines produce a lower yield of grapes with great concentration, which makes for more complex wines; only 25,000 bottles of this wine are produced annualy. It is not an easy grape to grow and it was nearly extinct by the 1970s, so there are very few very old Godello vines. By the mid 1980s producers were taking cuttings in DO’s of Valdeorras and Bierzo and recovering old, neglected vineyards. It is now recognised by many wine writers as equal to its well-known Galician counterpart, the Albariño.

Jancis Robinson MW is a great fan, to quote “wonderfully complete, beautifully balanced fine whites from the local Godello grape grown inland of Rías Baixas, These are dry, dense wines that have lots of both fruit and acidity and can improve in bottle”

About Bodegas y Viñedos Merayo

Merayo Godello, with its minmalist label, comes from a small, family-producer in the hills of DO Bierzo in North West Spain, which is the home of the red Mencia grape, but where Godello is also a well established indigenous white grape. The vineyards are near Villafranca, close to the Camino de Santiago de Compostela (The Pilgrims Way) and during our visit to Pedro’s scenic vineyards, we could see walkers making their way along the Camino!

The Merayo family have been growing grapes for generation in Bierzo. Pedro Merayo has 25 hectares of well established and immaculate vineyards with vines aged up to 110 years old. Such is the care and attention to his vineyards, Pedro Merayo has observed other vignerons taking photos of his vineyards to pass them off as theirs! Attention to detail in the vineyards, hand-picked grapes and careful winemaking by the dynamic Ferrian Uria is producing excellent results.

Food match: Fish and shell-fish, especially crab, squid, salmon and stronger flavoured fish dishes. It would go well with Mediterranean Fish Stew. it also pairs well a range of other dishes which include fennel and herbs such as coriander and basil.

Sells in a few Independent Merchants for £13.99 – £15.95 Check out our competitive price!