La Marea 2025 Albarino, Kristy Vineyard, Monterey County

The La Marea 2024 Albariño “Kristy Vineyard” opens with brightness edged in salt air. Aromas of white nectarine and honeysuckle rise first, followed by lemon zest and the faint spray of the Pacific carried inland. It’s coastal fruit, vivid and clear, without adornment.

On the palate, underripe pineapple and stone fruit find shape against a slate-lined mineral core. Acidity races through, but it doesn’t cut—it guides. The finish holds both freshness and a subtle echo of ripe citrus, a balance that feels effortless yet deliberate.

Kristy Vineyard, just inland from Monterey Bay, defines this wine. Maritime fog drapes the vines in the morning, while afternoon sun carries ripeness slowly forward. Shallow, rocky soils add tension and salinity, giving Albariño its sharp edges and lingering pulse.

La Marea is the Spanish-inspired branch of I. Brand & Family’s work, focused on site-driven whites and reds with minimal intervention. Native fermentation, stainless steel, and careful farming keep the wine stripped back to what matters: fruit, site, and clarity.

This isn’t Albariño trying to be more than itself—it’s Albariño distilled, a wine that drinks like wind moving through stone. La Marea 2024—brightness held in mineral frame.