Malvasia

52-60 2023 is the third vintage of this distinctive blend of red and white grapes by Abel Mendoza. The wine comes from small, contiguous plots in Mondiarte, in Labastida. The vines are around 60 years old and are planted on red sandstone soils. The vineyards are farmed organically. The blend is made from Tempranillo, Graciano and Garnacha, complemented by white grapes such as Garnacha Blanca, Malvasía Riojana and Viura. Only 1,407 bottles were produced.

50 year old vines. 2,500 bottles. This is Abel Mendoza's top white wine. A perfect blend of 5 different varietals; Viura (aka Macabeu), Malvoisie, White Tempranillo, Torrontés et White Grenache.

Malvasía was the first white wine Abel Mendoza produced, back in 1992, when Malvasía Riojana had almost disappeared from Rioja. This is not the aromatic Malvasía Cándida, but Malvasía Riojana, a more austere and rather neutral variety, also known as Alarije or Subirat Parent. After more than 30 years of experience with this grape, Abel Mendoza produces a white Rioja with freshness, tension and a saline undertone. Production of around 2,100 bottles.

This was their first fully owned vineyard (they bought it in 2016). Beautiful plot of over 100-year-old vines in Fonzaleche. Rioja of Grand Cru level.

Bimbache is the name of the first inhabitants of El Hierro. This original white has a both Atlantic and exotic character. Fully organic, non-interventionist white, with a minimal dose of added sulphur at bottling.

Limited and original project from the Anton family. Orben's wines are limited and distinct in the range anyway, but this Chocolate is another story in its own right. Sourced from a number of small vineyards totalling 0.8 ha at an altitude of 520 m, located between Laguardia and Villabuena de Alava. Very poor terroir with sandy soils and little water. 3 vintages are always blended into 1 wine.

Cullerot (tadpole, in the Valencian dialect) is a nickname for Valencian people - hence the image on the label. For some years now, Celler del Roure has tried to save the old local varietals. They are still using the "old winemaking system", in the big earthenware amphoras (tinajas) they have kept on this ancient estate. 2010 was the first vintage of this cuvée.

Jarrarte is the second wine, alongside the white single-varietal wines Viura and Malvasía, which are produced in very limited volumes (approximately 1,200 bottles per variety). The total production of Jarrarte is around 4,000 bottles. Jarrarte means “between the stones” in Basque, a reference to the poor soils in which the vines are planted.

1998 was the first vintage of this white wine, named after the heights on which the vines stand: Els Camps.

After reviving Bobal, Toni Sarrión turned to his next challenge: bringing Merseguera back into the spotlight. This traditional grape variety from the Alto Turia region near Valencia had long been neglected, used only for producing simple, uninspiring wines. His project began over a decade ago on a steep vineyard with a 10% incline, situated at 900 metres altitude. Old-vine Bobal proved unsuccessful in this cool climate — the grapes simply didn’t ripen — so Toni decided to graft the entire site over to Merseguera. The first vintage he released was 2011. To give the wine more aroma and energy, he added small amounts of Malvasía and Viognier. The vineyard is steeped in a Mediterranean atmosphere: between the vines grow olive trees, pine, rosemary, fennel and thyme.

Entry-level wine from this house. Honest, tasty and super-fruity. Pétalos = flower petals. Mainly from vineyards in and around Corullón. Mainly Mencía, but also quite a few unknown white and red grape varieties from the region due to the use of vieilles vignes. In 2021, it was named the best red wine in the world for value for money by Wine Spectator.

Entry-level wine from this house. Honest, tasty and super-fruity. Pétalos = flower petals. Mainly from vineyards in and around Corullón. Mainly Mencía, but also quite a few unknown white and red grape varieties from the region due to the use of vieilles vignes.

Fernando has always had a majority of white grapes in his vineyards. Along the years, the quality of his white wines has regularly improved. And now his blanco is at the top of Rioja's whites. Since 2011, he has also been producing a white reserva. Both cuvées are on par with the best white Burgundies. The grapes come from a 600 m high vineyard in San Vincente de la Sonsierra, on clay and limestone soils.

Pure Rofe Blanco is a blend of various terroirs all around Lanzarote. The common factor being the soils of black volcanic sand called 'rofe', locally.

Trasnocho means "wine of one night". A real fruit bomb!

Jesús Méndez revives the old ungrafted vines of the volcanic terroirs of the Canary islands, often long forgotten. This cuvée blends 4 white varietals and its production is only 800 bottles.

This Old Vine Reserva is a real gem. All the features of a Gran Reserva.