Wine Shop Wednesday: 2007 Vina Godeval

This week we again welcome Bryant Phillips to our occasional column Wine Shop Wednesday. You may remember Bryant from Sturkey’s or Chalk. Currently you can find him at the excellent Wise Owl Wine Bar in West Chester. If you’re anywhere near IKEA, you’re near the Wise Owl. Stop by and have a drink – it’s worth it. I visit whenever I’m on my way home from meetings in Dayton.

I’ve been told on more than one occasion that I drink too much Spanish wine.  Truth be told, I really just drink too much.  It’s not  because Spanish wines are cheap, nor is it because the wholesaler we buy them from is one of my best friends. It’s because the wines are that damn good.

Case in point, the 2007 Vina Godeval from the small D.O. called Valdeorras inside the Galicia region in Northwest Spain. Rias Baixas helped put this craggy rain-washed region on the map with its now famous Albarino wines.  The Godeval is 100% Godello. This nearly extinct varietal is indigenous to the region that Verdeho originates. Some say  they are genetic cousins.

I’m not usually one for labels, but this one manages to capture the wine in a way that is often missed.  The region is very independent from the rest of Spain and being coastal is also very old.  There are even rumors that the people are descendants of a Celtic clan way back when.  The label’s presentation of classic old world with just enough new world flash presents the bottles contents more than adequate.

Godeval is a great alternative to your other off-chard white wines, with just enough citrus fruit behind the crisp leafy green vegetable notes and striking minerality.  Its heritage gives it a less than full body, but enough weight to pair it with heartier spring foods like grilled fish rather than sauteed.  It’s perfect for all of the fresh produce at market right now like ramps & fiddlehead ferns.  I drink this wine all year, but as we come out of cold-weather Cab season, this is were I’m headed first.

You can be sure there is a bottle of this in every mixed case we’re selling right now and we’re flirting with the idea of pouring a strange, nearly extinct grape by the glass.  Guess you’ll have to stop in to see the new list!

More from Wine Girl

• Wine Shop Wednesday: Day to Day
• Wine Shop Wednesday: A Month in Business
• Wine Shop Wednesday: The Most Expensive Wine in the Bar
• Wine Shop Wednesday: Sampling Wines
• Wine Shop Wednesday: Opening Glitches

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4 Responses to “Wine Shop Wednesday: 2007 Vina Godeval”

1. DailyWineNews says:

   May 26, 2010 at 8:28 am

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2. writetechnology says:

   May 26, 2010 at 8:28 am

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3. WineReflector says:

   May 26, 2010 at 4:47 am

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   This comment was originally posted on Twitter
4. Wine Shop Wednesday: Bodegas La Cana Albarino | My Wine Education says:

   June 2, 2010 at 7:53 am

   [...] you read last week’s post, you already know how I feel about Spanish Whites.  The Godeval from last week got me thinking [...]