La Antigua, Clasico Blanco, Rioja

This is a very different style of white wine. It doesn't play on acidity and freshness, but more on texture and structure. I would drink at around 16°C, in a white wine glass, when colder it has a bit of a "dusty" smell. Aroma: medium(-) intensity, with lemon cake, coconut husk, candied ginger and cooked sage. Taste: not heavy but slightly oily, medium(-) acidity, very present salty persistence that makes the fish medium(+), alcohol is well integrated. It worked surprisingly …

Good acidity and structure. Got mangos, some oak, honeydew.

This is so round and full and lovely out of the Zalto burgundy glass that you don't miss the details shown in the universal glass -- the citrus, minerality, caramelly oak. Drunk over two days, holds well.

With some air, this shows traditional white Rioja aromas: lots of oak, bergamot and perhaps anise and butterscotch and a greenish aromatic tinge. Very much a complete whole with a great texture from the oak. It resembles to some extent the whites of Lopez de Heredia and also the much missed Marques de Murrieta white reserva from the 1980s (and apparently as divisive as they were), yet it is also modern and clean. And only 12.5 %ABV. Great out of …

Difficult to discern any varietal or regional character here. Other than a strong oak presence, there's little character. Phenolic finish. Supposedly has a "flor" component, but it's well hidden below the oak.