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Allende Blanco 2019

Allende Blanco

2019
92
PARKER

£33.95

/ 0.75 L btl
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Spec sheet

TypeWhite wine
Region
Grapes
Producer
AllergensContains sulfites
Alcohol contenti13.5%
Production25,000 - 35,000 bottles

The wine

Allende Blanco is a wine of contrasts, of surprises, pleasant ones, and an ideal white for getting to know the great potential of the Rioja's Viura variety and being delighted with it. The contrasts will become apparent when you compare the nose and palate. And the great surprise, or the second one, comes through on the palate. It's impressive, a white recalling some of those superb Chardonnays from Burgundy but with all the character of a true Rioja: maturity, tension and saline profundity, like some of the classics.  A white that few can compare to, genuinely classic, precisely modern.

The Allende Blanco is almost a single varietal Viura and will ultimately become one in time. It has a mere 5% Malvasía from some vines planted among the Viura, but which Miguel Ángel intends to select and discard over time since, even though it's a variety that imparts aromas when the wine is young, it's quick to oxidise. We will follow the development of this white with great attention.

What does this wine taste like?

In the glass it's a very bright yellow, extremely limpid, and once poured, the aromas tally with that lightness of colour: subtly perfumed and tremendously fresh, citrus, with a very clean and well-defined nose, yet also revealing some surprising hints redolent of chalk. Warming up a bit, it develops a saline nuance, a balsamic waft and even a hint of the odd off-white flower. It's definitely not lacking in elegance, character, nor complexity either.

In the mouth it is very flavoursome, with great volume and the fruit provision is delicious, with flavours more of stone fruit than the citrus ones suggested by its nose, peach and very ripe greengage plums. Unless you'd read the technical sheet, you'd never believe that this wine not only ferments in new barrels but also ages in them for over a year, for a total of fourteen months, in French oak barrels and all new. The secret? Barrels with a very light toast. And the Burgundy idea comes to mind due to the overall quality and precision. A great Viura, long and very persistent as well.

Drinking and storing

Serve between 10ºC and 12ºC

Food pairing

entrantes
Starters and suppers
verduras-y-hortalizas
Vegetables
arroces
Rice
pescados
Fish
aves-y-carnes-blancas
Poultry and white meats
pasta
Pasta

Anchovies / Fish in sauce / Grilled fish / Pasta with cheese / Rice with fish / Olives

Ratings and awards

202093 PK
201992 PK
201893 PK
201791 PK
201693 PK17.5 JR
201592 PK
PK: ParkerJR: Jancis robinson

Wine critics reviewsReviews by Jancis Robinson and Parker

Deep gold and a clear glass bordeaux bottle. Really appealing beeswax, broad measured oakiness with green leafiness and an edge of citrus peel. Full, broad, with an (attractive) hint of polish. Such a unique wine! Quite good value.

— Jancis Robinson (07/11/2021)JancisRobinson.com Vintage 2016 - 17.5 JANCIS ROBINSON

I had two vintages of some of the wines to taste side by side, which is always interesting to see the effect of the different years in the wines. The white 2016 Allende Blanco comes from a late harvested that started here the 10th of October, and the wine is fresh and balanced, with good acidity and good ripeness, keeping 13.5% alcohol. This is mostly Viura with 5% Malvasía Riojana (Alarije). It fermented with indigenous yeasts in new French oak barrels, where the wine matured for 14 months, the first seven with lees that were stirred twice per week. There is a lot of freshness here and a hint of classicism that could remind you of the whites from yesteryear. The palate is dry, with chalky minerality and a long and tasty finish. This is subtle and elegant and has nice balance; it should develop nicely in bottle. 36,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2018.

— Luis Gutiérrez (30/10/2020)Robert Parker Wine Advocate Vintage 2016 - 93 PARKER

Customer reviews

4.5/5
11 reviews
Vintage:

Winemaking

Vinification materialWood
Ageing period14 months
Barrel ageNew
Type of woodFrench oak
Clarification and filtrationNot clarified / Soft filtering before bottling

Vineyards

We asked Miguel Ángel about that chalky character in this Rioja Alta region and he told us that the soils of Briones, the town where his vineyards are located, are ones that make the difference; clay soils, yes, but with a continuous substratum of calcareous gravel which makes the roots of those old vines sink down deep and extract a large amount of minerals.

Vine age55 years
SoilClay / Gravel in the depth

The winery

Finca Allende

Finca Allende

Miguel Ángel de Gregorio is one of the best winemakers in the country and an assiduous vine grower. Quite a reference point in La Rioja, he was one of the first to opt for single vineyard wines (Calvario and Aurus have been his principal exponents) and he is a firm supporter of indigenous varieties and hard work in the vineyard. He received praise first of all for his great efforts at Bodegas Bretón, but he attracted fame definitively due to the wines of his own winery: Finca...

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