Alongside its Tomiño vines, Santiago Ruiz maintains a second, small parcel of old-vine Albariño at the original 17th century winery in San Miguel de Tabagón. Situated 10 kilometres west of the Tomiño plantings towards the Miño estuary, these 40-year-old vines are trained in the traditional parral canopy fashion, anchored by granite posts. The gnarled, skinny trunks produce low yields of highly concentrated fruit used exclusively for the estate’s 100% Albariño, Rosa Ruiz.
A touch of skin contact and extended lees maturation gives this wine a stonier feel than the O Rosal bottling. Raised in small stainless-steel vessels to enrich the texture, it's a chiselled Albariño showing engaging purity, top notes of ripe lemon and sea spray, with plenty of surface and lingering traces of tangy acidity and chalk. Taking its cues from its granite soils, it is a cracking example of the grape and the region.