Look no further if you wish to experience a shining example of vibrant, refreshing, ready-to-drink Godello. For those new to northwestern Spain’s Godello grape, it lives somewhere between Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, and Riesling in character. Michael Franz first drew my attention to this beautiful variety in a tasting class years ago, and I wondered where it had been all my life. This 100% Godello is rich and round, with lemon peel and blossom accents dancing around the bouquet. The flavors display notes of grapefruit, fresh peach, lemon cream, honeysuckle with a slightly herbal edge. It offers bright acidity and a lingering mineral finish driven by the region’s slate hillsides. At $20, this is an excellent value as it tastes like it costs a lot more.
Bodegas Avancia, Valdeorras (Galicia, Spain) Godello 2018
By Miranda Franco