Glorioso Blanco Lias 2024

Cosme Palacios makes Glorioso Blanco from Viura in D.O.Ca. Rioja, the traditional white grape of the region. The vineyards sit on the clay and limestone soils common through Rioja, which hold water into the dry summer and give white Viura its firm structure and ageing potential. A continental climate with warm days and cool nights lets the fruit ripen fully while keeping enough acidity for freshness. After fermentation the wine spends around three months on its fine lees in barrel. That contact, along with the slow oxygen exchange through the oak, builds a creamy texture and a light toast, while stirring the lees releases mannoproteins that soften the palate. The barrel time is deliberately short so the fruit stays clear and the wine keeps its brightness. The colour is pale gold. The nose shows green apple, ripe pear and lemon with a faint vanilla and toast edge from the oak. The palate is fresh and rounded, the creamy lees weight balanced by clean acidity, finishing on citrus and a light almond character. Serve at 9 to 11 degrees.