Viña Pomal Vinos Singulares Tempranillo Blanco Reserva 2018

Bodegas Bilbaínas, under the Viña Pomal label, makes this from Tempranillo Blanco, a white mutation of the red Tempranillo discovered in Rioja and now authorised in the appellation. Grown in the continental climate of La Rioja, with warm days and cool nights, the grape keeps good acidity and a citrus and orchard fruit character. The wine is aged for eight months in French oak, a barrel élevage that puts the wine in contact with its lees and with the wood. The lees add a creamy weight through the release of mannoproteins as yeast cells break down, while the oak contributes a light toast and vanilla and allows a slow oxygen exchange that builds texture and complexity. The colour is bright straw gold. The nose shows green apple and white peach lifted by citrus peel, with vanilla, toasted bread and a nutty, almond note from the barrel. The palate is medium to full bodied and textured, the oak framing a fresh fruit core that closes long and savoury. Serve at 11 to 13 degrees in a large glass.