Abeica Abaris Blanco 2023

Bodegas Abeica farms its vineyards at the foot of the Sonsierra, around the village of Ábalos in the Rioja Alavesa, on clay limestone soils with a sand content and at altitudes between 450 and 590 metres. That elevation brings cool nights and a wide day to night temperature swing, which slows ripening and preserves acidity in the fruit, an advantage for whites in a warm region. Abaris Blanco is a single varietal Viura aged ten months in barrel. The long time in oak, with the wine resting on its lees, adds body, a creamy texture and a light toasted character, while slow oxygen ingress through the wood softens the wine and develops its aromatics. At 14 percent it is a fuller style, ripe but held together by the underlying freshness the altitude gives. The colour is bright yellow, the nose shows lemon and white peach with vanilla, almond and a touch of honey from the barrel, and the palate is broad and textured with a dry, persistent finish. Serve at 10 to 12 degrees in a white wine glass. Good with white fish, roast chicken, pork and nutty cheeses.