Clos Pons Sisquella Blanco 2020

Clos Pons is based at L'Albagès in Lleida, in the inland appellation of Costers del Segre, and Sisquella blends Garnacha Blanca with Albariño. The vineyards lie high, at 500 to 700 metres, around L'Albagès and Pobla de Cérvoles, where a marked day to night temperature swing at altitude keeps acidity and aromatic freshness in a warm, dry continental climate. The Garnacha Blanca brings body and texture and the Albariño lends acidity and lift. The fruit is picked by hand into small 15 kilogram crates to keep it whole and clean. The wine is fermented and aged for four months in new French oak barrels with bâtonnage every fifteen days, meaning the lees are stirred back through the wine. That stirring, and the slow oxygen exchange through new oak, build a broad, creamy texture and add vanilla and toast while the fruit stays central. The colour is bright gold. The nose shows white peach and pear with vanilla, toasted bread and citrus peel, and the palate is full and rounded, its freshness holding the oak in balance through a honeyed finish. Serve it at around 11 to 12 degrees.