Les Argiles d’Orto Blanc 2025

Les Argiles d'Orto Blanc is a white from D.O. Montsant, made by Orto Vins from Macabeo, at ninety-three per cent, with a small share of Garnacha Blanca. The fruit comes from estate vineyards near El Masroig, planted between twenty-five and seventy years ago at around 250 metres. The vines are farmed organically on clay soils, which the wine is named for and which retain moisture and give the wine its saline, mineral backbone. The warm inland climate of Montsant is tempered by altitude and cool nights, which preserve freshness in the fruit. Winemaking follows traditional methods, with fermentation in stainless steel to keep the fruit clean and precise. The wine then spends eight months on its lees in steel tanks, a stage that builds texture and a savoury depth while keeping the wine bright and unoaked. Expect a pale straw colour and a nose of green apple, pear and thyme with a hint of white flowers. The palate is dry and textured, medium bodied, with orchard fruit, a herbal edge and a saline mineral finish. Serve at 9 to 11 degrees.