José Antonio García Viticultor Valtuille de Abajo Godello – Doña Blanca 2024

This white comes from José Antonio García, who returned to Bierzo in 2010 to restore his family's old vineyards after years working in Barcelona restaurants. The family owns around 22 hectares of ancient vines, between 80 and 100 years old, around Valtuille de Abajo. The wine, once known as Unculín Blanco, blends Godello with the local Doña Blanca. Bierzo lies in a sheltered valley in the north west of Castilla y León, with slate and clay soils over granite, and the old vines give low yields of deeply flavoured fruit with natural balance. Godello gives body and stone fruit while Doña Blanca adds freshness and a floral lift. The wine is aged in barrel, which through slow lees contact and gentle oxygen exchange builds a rounder, more textured palate without adding obvious oak flavour, letting the fruit and site stay in front. The colour is bright straw with gold hints. The nose shows white peach, pear and apricot with white flowers and a waxy, faintly almond note. The palate is rounded and medium bodied, with ripe fruit, fresh acidity and a mineral, savoury finish from the old vine fruit. Serve at 10 to 12 degrees. It suits grilled fish, richer seafood and roast poultry.