Pretium Rioja Blanco 2019
WineSpark Price €23.57
One of the sneaky big sellers of the first year of WineSpark was white Rioja. So I was overjoyed when I came across this gem at the Barcelona wine fair.
It’s made by the extremely talented Berta Valgañon, in the far northwest corner of Rioja.
This is a wild and remote place - with unpredictable weather. In August it gets as low as 2°C at night, with extremely hot days. This variation in day/night temperature gives the grapes a real intensity of flavour and freshness.
Berta hand-picks the grapes from a single vineyard plot, planted by her great-grandfather 120 years ago. It’s a field blend of 45% Viura, 45% Malvasia and 10% Calagraño. It’s aged in old oak barrels for 11 months, 6 of which is on its lees.
The wine ends up distinctly fresh and fruity, with a lovely subtle smoky and nutty nose from the oak. On the palate it’s full and intense, with a satisfyingly long saline finish.
If you love white Burgundy but you’re after something a bit different, give this a try. And 93 points from Tim Atkin MW - high praise indeed.
| Wine type | White |
| Grape(s) | 45% Viura, 45% Malvasía of Rioja and 10% Calagraño |
| Country | Spain |
| Region of origin | Rioja |
| Vintage | 2019 |
| Alcohol % | 13.5 |
| Oak? | Yes |
| Months in Oak | 11 |
| Type of Oak | French oak, 500 litres |
| Allergens (e.g. does it contain Milk, Egg, Fish, Nuts) | None |
| Average age of vines | 120 years |
| Average altitude of vines (m) | 570m |
| Soil type(s) | Loam and limestone soil |
| Closure Type | Cork |
| Is this wine organic? | Yes |
| Biodynamic? | No |
| Sustainably produced? | Yes |
| Suitable for vegans? | Yes |
| Ageing potential | 5 years |
| Ideal drinking window | 2022 - 2027 |
In wine, there's nothing like the thrill of discovering something new, from someone who absolutely deserves success. And Berta is exactly that person.
We know how important it is to get your wine order quickly and efficiently. So we’ve partnered with UPS to offer next-day delivery on our wines.
Here’s what you need to know:
- It’s free - delivery is already included in the members' price
- It’s fast - you’ll get next-day delivery if you order before 12pm Monday-Thursday
- It’s environmentally-friendly - all our orders are shipped carbon neutral with UPS.
We ship to the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland only. €2 per case is added to all Northern Ireland orders to cover additional shipping costs. The point of sale occurs in the Republic of Ireland.
Our minimum order requirement is 6 bottles and we ship in multiples of 6’s. This can be 6 different bottles!
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