Lagar de Sabariz A Pita Cega 2016

This is an incredibly special white wine, one of Spain’s very best. It might be unlike any other white wine you’ve ever tasted.

It’s a traditional Ribeiro blend of Albarino, Godello and Treixadura. The exact blend changes every year, depending on what nature throws at Pilar.

Everything is 100% natural here in the growing of the grapes, and the making of the wine.

The winemaking is a little bit mad - but it works. Pilar ages the grapes separately in stainless steel tanks for 3 years. She then blends the wine together, and it sits in steel for another 3 years to properly come together. It’s then bottled and aged for another year before release.

You end up with a rich, complex and highly aromatic white wine. The texture is just so soft and effortless, it’s a joy to drink and indeed, savour. There’s peach and apricot fruit, there’s plenty of florals, and great balance and freshness.

You wouldn't be far off if it reminded you of a great Viognier like Condrieu, home of Pilar's great-grandparents.

You’d also never think it was 7 years old, and in fact it’s got plenty left in the tank too, if you wanted to lay down a few bottles.

A Pita Cega is found in Spain’s best restaurants - which is pretty cool. But what I find much more credible is that the likes of César Márquez, Ana Carazo, Iria Otero - some of the Spanish winemakers that I respect the most - all lit up when I told them I was going to work with Pilar and bring this wine to Ireland.

That’s all the validation I needed - and the same should go for you!