Primitivo Collantes Socaire Blanco Oxidativo de Albariza 2020

Primitivo Collantes farms in Chiclana on the Cadiz coast of Andalusia, where the family has worked the white albariza soils since the late nineteenth century. Socaire Blanco Oxidativo de Albariza is a still white from Palomino Fino, made in a deliberately oxidative style rather than the fresh, protected manner. The albariza is a chalky, sun-reflecting soil that retains winter moisture and lends the wine its salinity and mineral drive, while the Atlantic breezes moderate the heat. The wine follows a long élevage of twenty-four months in barrel, twenty-four months in stainless steel and a further twelve months in bottle. The extended time in cask exposes the wine to gentle oxygen, converting some alcohol to acetaldehyde and building the nutty, apple-skin and dried-fruit notes typical of oxidative Andalusian whites. The colour is deep gold. The nose is savoury and developed, with almond and walnut, dried apricot and a toasted, bread-like note over a saline base. The palate is dry, textured and long, the nutty oxidative character balanced by a firm acidity and a chalky, salty finish. Serve at 12 to 13 degrees in a white glass.