Vuira Blend
Bodegas Muga Blanco 2006
Here is another very appealing white Rioja. There seems to be a movement to fresh, easy drinking white wines in Rioja over the past 10 or so years. With the allowance of a couple of non-traditional white varieties in Rioja by the OIPVR (Organización Interprofesional del Vino de Rioja), perhaps Rioja Chardonnay/vuira blends will become a new cult classic?
So, this is made from mostly vuira with a splash of Malvasia (10%), a lot of sorting is used to get the best fruit, up 50% is discarded. It is fermented in new French oak and given 3 months on lees prior to bottling.
Very pale in colour, with a very light gold/green tint. On the nose there is some vanilla followed up by apples, slight peach and lemon. Very fine in the mouth, leading in with some acid followed by flavours of lemon, minerals and apples. Very drinkable, its the kind of thing you can pull from the ice on a hot day and really get stuck into it. 88 Pts.
Source: Toro/Woods Wines Price: $21 Closure: Conventional Cork
Web: www.bodegasmuga.com
Bodegas Luis Cañas Blanco Fermentado en Barrica 2006
Bodegas Luis Canas is located in Rioja Alvesa and they make this cracking white Rioja. I bet that is not a term you hear very often: cracking white Rioja. White Rioja has a reputation as an oaky old thing with a little fruit and lots of secondary characters. Which is great if you like the style, but a lot of drinkers don't get it, and more to the point, don't want to spend the time getting to know. This is a little bit different, more modern with a short time French oak and shows fresh lemon fruit.
Its 90% Vuira and 10% Malvasia from 60 year old vines, fermented in new French oak, then left in oak for another 4 months. If you really chill this wine you get a very sharp, stinging nettle character. I like it, but I think most people will prefer the wine a bit warmer so I've gone with the note from the warmer wine.
Very light gold with a green tint. Aromas of fennel bulb, vanilla been and coconut, a touch of fresh grass and iron ore/minerals. Textured in the mouth with a good hit of acid and extreme length. Flavours of intense lemon, sage and bay leaf with some caramel oak. Get stuck into some seafood with this one. 88 Pts.
Source: Toro/Woods Wines Price: Around $25 Closure: Conventional Cork
Web: www.luiscanas.com
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