I recently had the opportunity to enjoy some excellent white wines from Rioja. White wines from Rioja primarily are made from Viuria, an indigenous grape to the region; they sometimes also contain Malvasia. The wines often are aged in oak, and as a result can be quite age-worthy.
Lopéz de Heredia is one of the most traditional producers of Rioja. I had the pleasure of enjoying their Viña Tondonia Rioja Blanco Reserva 1989. This wine is a blend of Viuria (90%) and Malvasia (10%), all sourced from the estate's vineyards, and was barrel aged for six years. The wine is twenty-four years old, and still has so much life and complexity to offer. On tasting, it was a beautiful golden color, with nothing short of a fresh and intense nose and palate, consisting of flavors of honey and nuts (think almond) along with subtle notes of lemon. Perhaps the most interesting feature of the wine were its oxidative, nutty characteristics. It was in some ways similar to an Amontillado in this respect, with these oxidative notes, mineral tones and acidity; however, it was 100% Rioja, gracefully aging Viuria.
Lopéz de Heredia is one of the most traditional producers of Rioja. I had the pleasure of enjoying their Viña Tondonia Rioja Blanco Reserva 1989. This wine is a blend of Viuria (90%) and Malvasia (10%), all sourced from the estate's vineyards, and was barrel aged for six years. The wine is twenty-four years old, and still has so much life and complexity to offer. On tasting, it was a beautiful golden color, with nothing short of a fresh and intense nose and palate, consisting of flavors of honey and nuts (think almond) along with subtle notes of lemon. Perhaps the most interesting feature of the wine were its oxidative, nutty characteristics. It was in some ways similar to an Amontillado in this respect, with these oxidative notes, mineral tones and acidity; however, it was 100% Rioja, gracefully aging Viuria.
Capellanía, another Rioja Blanco, is 100% Viuria, made by Marqués de Murrieta. This wine very much has its roots in "Old School' sensibility but has certain fruit aromas and oak elements that give it a touch of 21st century styling. The Viuria grapes are sourced from the Capellanía vineyard within the Murrieta Ygay estate, fermented in stainless steel, and aged for 15 months in new French oak. While aged for an additional year prior to release, I tasted this wine an additional four years after bottling. It was a full colored straw-yellow in the glass, with an initial oxidative note combined with crisp acidity, hazelnuts, ripe melon, and citrus aromas. Capellanía is balanced on the palate with very well-integrated oak, with excellent structure.