Jose Gil El Calado del Espino 2023

Jose Gil El Calado del Espino is a single-variety Viura from Jose Gil, a young Rioja grower, matured in the traditional underground cellars, or calaos, carved beneath the villages of the region, where a constant natural coolness keeps the wine steady. It is aged for twelve months in a mix of oak barrels and damajuanas, the glass demijohns long used in Rioja. The combination is the key to the style: the demijohns are effectively inert glass, so the wine held in them ages slowly with almost no oxygen and no oak flavour, keeping it fresh and youthful, while the portion in barrel adds a little texture and a nutty edge. Despite a full year of ageing, the wine stays pale yellow and vibrant. The nose is delicate, leading with apple and pear over white flowers, with a subtle almond and fresh dough note from the lees. The palate is dry and fresh, with crisp acidity carrying orchard fruit and citrus to a clean, mineral finish. This is a precise, low-intervention white Rioja that keeps its freshness. Serve at 9 to 11 degrees. It suits white fish, shellfish, poultry and salads.