By this point, you likely know I have been impressed with the Manuel Quintano "Homage" bottling's from the Labastida family. I pretty much bought the entire range :-).

Today we finally get to the much anticipated Blanco 'cuz, you know, Spring is here...kinda. And the wine is close!

Anyhow, this wine is not inexpensive, and rightly so. Produced from the high-altitudes of Rioja Alavesa from 70+-year-old vines and aged in French oak on the lees for 12-months - just enough time to impart toasty oak influences and complexity, but not be a wood-bomb - this blend of 90% Viura and 10% Tempranillo Blanco is a dynamic and complex wine with incredible weight, balance, and structure.

Definitely worth the wait!

While we await scores on this vintage, the quality of the grapes in 2021 exceeded those of the 91-point scored 2020 and 2019 vintages (James Suckling) and previous vintages are consistently scored 91-92 points by Suckling year over year, with the 2018 also taking a Gold Medal from Drinks Business. Long and short, you can expect this 2021 vintage to perform very, very well.

Fetching 12-14 Euro/bottle overseas, you would expect to pay around $25-$30/bottle landed in the states. 

The opening is absolutely show-stopping: flinty white pepper and hyacinth are dynamically interwoven with citrus, mango, and guava framed by quince-flecked mineral and apple structure. Round, smooth, and balanced on entry with a honeyed minerality carrying citrus and stone fruit to a beautifully attenuated finish; while rich and fleshy on the palate, it's superbly balanced on the exit with excellent structure and length.

Stock up for the warm days ahead folks!