Campo Viejo Blanco Semidulce 2024

Campo Viejo Blanco Semidulce is an off dry white from D.O.Ca. Rioja, made by Campo Viejo in Logrono, a house whose first vintage dates to 1959. It is built on Viura, the region's main white grape, and finished with a touch of residual sugar in the semi sweet style. Rioja lies in the Ebro valley, where warm days ripen the fruit and cooler nights preserve acidity, which matters here because the acidity is what stops an off dry white from feeling heavy. The wine spends eight months in French and American oak, a short ageing that softens the texture and adds a light vanilla and toast to the ripe fruit without covering it. Stopping fermentation before all the sugar converts leaves the wine gently sweet, while the natural acidity keeps it fresh and drinkable. The colour is bright straw yellow. The nose is ripe white peach and apricot, honey and white flowers, with a melon note. The palate is soft and lightly sweet, balanced by citrus freshness, closing clean rather than cloying. Serve well chilled at 7 to 9 degrees.