Laventura Malvasia 2024

Laventura made this white from Malvasía in D.O.Ca. Rioja, in northern Spain, under the South African winemaker Bryan MacRobert. After working across Spain and South Africa, MacRobert set up in Rioja with around 1.5 hectares of his own vines, making small volumes meant to reflect the site, the variety and the vintage. Malvasía is one of Rioja's traditional white grapes, prized for its perfume, and it holds its aromatics best when the winemaking stays neutral. This 2024 spent 12 months in concrete vats, an inert vessel that keeps the fruit fresh and adds no oak flavour while giving a rounder texture than steel and a slow, even development. Time on the fine lees lends a light weight and a saline lift. The stony, varied Rioja soils and the region's day to night temperature swing keep acidity firm under the ripe fruit. The colour is pale straw gold. The nose is white flowers, white peach and apricot with lemon and citrus peel, and the palate is dry and textured, floral and fresh, with a honeyed edge and a long, saline, mineral finish. Serve at 10 to 12 degrees in a white wine glass.