Dominio del Challao Blanco 2021

Dominio del Challao is the Rioja white from the Michelini i Mufatto family, farmed biodynamically and built for maturity rather than early drinking. The blend of Garnacha Blanca, Malvasía and Viura comes from Rioja, where the mix of clay and limestone soils holds water through the dry summer and lends the wine its structure and acidity. The vineyard is worked without synthetic treatments, following the biodynamic calendar, which keeps the soil active and the fruit clean. What sets this wine apart is the ageing: twenty-four months in oak barrels, a long spell during which steady oxygen exchange through the wood and contact with the fine lees turn primary fruit into a savoury, textured whole. It pours deep gold. The nose is beeswax, toasted almond and honey over dried herbs, and the palate is full and dry, with baked pear, citrus peel and a vanilla note from the barrel, kept lively by a firm line of acidity through the finish. This is a white with the weight and grip of an old-school Rioja. Serve at 12 to 13 degrees in a large glass.