Vina del Lentisco Villota Seleccion Blanco 2019

At the single-estate Villota estate, the wines are made exclusively from grapes grown on-site. The family-run business also operates on a small scale, which benefits from the wines' strong terroir expression, characterized by the vineyards' prominent location in the Rioja Alavesa region, directly on the Ebro River.

Insiders consider this strip of land the "Côte d'Or" of the Rioja, where Grand Cru wines are produced. In 2013, the Pérez Villota family broke away from a partnership with the renowned Viñedos del Contino, taking their beautiful, old vineyards with them and establishing the artisanal bodega.

The Villota Blanco Seleccíon is a classically crafted white Rioja with a modern nuance, thanks to shorter barrel aging with minimal oxygen exposure. The Viura grapes come from a 45-year-old plot with very limited production.

After harvesting, cold maceration and pressing follow immediately. Once fermentation begins, the wine is transferred to small French oak barrels for six months of aging on its lees. The result is an impressive, oak-aged white Rioja with many culinary uses. Wonderful, for example, with roast fish and a classic white wine sauce.