Alonso & Pedrajo La Pequenita Blanco Macerado 2020

Enjoy it now, or cellar for up to 10 years. No need to decant before serving. Made with 100% Malvasia, this is an intriguing Rioja, lying somewhere between a white and an orange wine. It begins with full, fruity aromas of quince, pear, and apple, alongside herby hints of fennel. Its grapes were harvested by hand from young vineyards in the foothills of the Obarenes Mountains, at 550 metres above sea level. Alonso and Pedrajo was founded in 2011, by two new winemaking families. It can be found in the town of Villalba de Rioja, where a unique terroir has formed, halfway between the Mediterranean and Atlantic climates. Alonso and Pedrajo’s clay-calcareous soils are mainly worked by hand, and they adopt a minimal intervention approach to their winemaking. La Pequenita Blanco Macerado is packed with character. It’s intensely acidic and well rounded in the mouth, with flavours of citrus, orchard fruits, and buttery pastries. The tannins are subtle, but they make themselves known. The name “macerado” comes from the wine’s long maceration with the skins, followed by fermentation in clay jars, imbuing the wine with a darker colour. It is a great partner for fish in a white sauce, soft cheese, or a variety of vegetarian dishes.

Price: £22.64 from 8wines UK