La Caña Navia 2016

Tasting different vintages of the same wine side by side lets you see the vintage character or the profile change of the wine, if there has been any. In this case, tasting the 2016 Navia next to the 2015 and 2017 revealed how the oak regime must have changed in 2017, as 2016 and 2015 showed more similarities; both vintages felt spicy, smoky and ashy, when the oak was quite dominant, and the wines also felt a bit wider, especially in 2016, when the wine came through a little flat in the mid-palate and had abundant oak-related reminiscences in the finish. 10,200 bottles produced. It was bottled after 12 months of aging on the fine lees in the oak fermentation vessel, with bâtonnage to oxygenate the lees.

Beautifully fresh pears and apple-biscuit with hints of fresh praline. The palate has plenty of crunchy, zesty lemon and green-apple flavor with fresh and enlivened, dry cut at the finish. Drink now.

The 2016 La Caña Navia is a single vineyard Albariño that was barrel fermented and aged 14 months on lees. Its light gold color is followed by beautiful notes of honeyed grapefruit, pineapple, salty minerality, and white flowers. It's elegant, medium to full-bodied, has remarkable purity of fruit, and a great finish, all making for a riveting Albariño. It might be the finest Albariño I've tasted.