Cueva del Monge Blanco 2021

Vinícola Real is a small Rioja producer best known for the red 200 Monges, and Cueva del Monge Blanco is its white in the same house style. It blends Viura, Malvasía and white Grenache, harvested by hand into small fifteen kilogram crates so the fruit arrives intact. At the winery the grapes are crushed, drained and pressed gently to take only the free-run juice, the clearest and least astringent fraction. The wine is barrel fermented and then aged four months in a mix of French and American oak. Fermenting in barrel rather than tank knits the wood into the fruit from the start and gives a smoother texture, while the two oak types contribute different accents: French oak adds fine spice and structure, American oak a rounder vanilla and coconut note. Time on the lees during ageing adds body and a savoury, doughy depth through mannoprotein release. The colour is bright golden straw. The nose shows pear and white peach over almond, vanilla and fresh bread. The palate is medium bodied and rounded, its creamy, lightly toasty texture balanced by citrus acidity through a clean finish. Serve at 10 to 12 degrees.