94 pts Wine Advocate
The 2019 Balado is the ripest of the Albariños that I tasted at 13.6% alcohol, a powerful and vibrant white with very high acidity (8.2 grams) and a low pH (3.12). Because it had very high acidity, it underwent 100% malolactic, and the wine has remained with very good balance and a lactic touch. It comes from two small plots in Sisán that were replanted ungrafted in 1959, both south-facing and shallow on granite soils enclosed by stone walls ("balado" in the Gallego language means "walled"). It's fresh and wakes you up, and it's very tasty and young, with citrus hints and a balsamic touch.

The most powerful in mineral terroir expression and also the most structurally profound with riveting acidity matched with citrus and salinity.

Vineyard & winemaking: This wine is from two parcels of ungrafted vines, planted in the 1950’s in a Clos (or Balo in the local dialect). Here, there is only about 40-60 cm of topsoil over a bedrock of solid granite. Vinification is in steel tank, and malolactic fermentation is blocked. As such, this is often the most taught, chiseled and mineral-driven in the line-up, and can often require some bottle age to reveal its full potential.  Vinification takes place in stainless steel with wild yeast. The wine is aged on the gross lees for 3-6 months and then on the fine lees for 6 months.