Rioja Blanco ‘Montes Obarenes’ 2021

From a high-altitude vineyard against the Montes Obarenes mountain range, where mainly very old 'bushvines' viura grow. This intense wine is matured on the fine yeast residues: 80% in new French oak and 20% in concrete. Great white wine: complex aromas and flavours of ripe white, stone and exotic fruit, luxurious spices and something spicy. A velvety texture, and an impressive balance in the aftertaste of ripe fruit, minerality, saltiness and freshness.

Winery: Goméz Cruzado, a bodega boutique in Haro, Rioja Alta. Family business since 1886 and now led by David Gonzalez. A winemaker with an eye for tradition and especially looking at the terroir of the region for the grape variety in question. Goméz Cruzado believes above all in the terroir and the people who have worked their lives in the vineyards. This ensures that the wines excel at every level; both the generic crianza and the ‘single vineyard’ wines are worth every euro. Traditionally, Goméz Cruzado is also praised for its white Riojas. While making the blanco variant is seen as an extra by many bodegas, it is a real tradition here and a large part of the production (around 25%) is reserved for white wines.

Area: La Rioja is an autonomous region and province in the north of Spain, directly below the Basque Country. We know it mainly from its wine growing, perhaps the most famous area in Spain. There is wine growing in all shapes and sizes, ranging from cheap and mediocre in quality, to top quality with similar prices. Tempranillo is by far the most important grape variety here, although a limited amount of other grapes may also be used. Rioja Alta is the northwestern part of the Rioja area, and the most sought-after in terms of quality.