Bodegas y Viñedos San Román Malvasía 2023

This white comes from Bodegas y Viñedos San Román, the Toro estate that Mariano García established in 1995 across Pedrosa del Rey, Villaester and San Román de Hornija. The house is built around Tinta de Toro, but it also works Garnacha and, here, Malvasía. Toro is a warm, high plateau with a strong diurnal swing between hot days and cold nights, which lets aromatic white grapes ripen while holding freshness. Malvasía is naturally perfumed and slightly herbal, and this cuvée is fermented and aged in barrel, where measured oxygen exchange through the wood rounds the texture and integrates the wine without covering the variety. Time on the lees adds weight to the mid palate. The colour is bright gold. The nose is led by aromatic herbs and a note of anise, with ripe pear and citrus behind. The palate is fresh and textured, with a savoury, faintly saline finish and gentle spice from the oak. Serve at 10 to 12 degrees in a white wine glass.