Miguel Merino - Rioja Blanco 2023
Price: $67.99
Sale Price: $49.99
| Producer | Miguel Merino |
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| Country | Spain |
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| Region | Rioja |
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| Varietal | Viura, Garnacha Blanca |
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| Vintage | 2023 |
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| Sku | 18185 |
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| Size | 750ml |
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Miguel Merino Jr. took over the reins from his father and has become one of the rising superstars in the “new” Rioja movement. In their recent article, “Rioja’s village wines: The names to know and bottles to seek out.” Decanter highlighted Miguel Merino Jr.!
What is the “new” Rioja movement? Simply, it is the same (r)evolution we have seen across the world – young winemakers looking back in time to how wine was made before international distribution and commercialization. A focus on the vineyard first, second and third. Then, a focus on the making of wine. For some reason, Rioja is late to the party. But now that they are getting down, it is quite a party.
80% Viura / 20% Garnacha Blanca, fermented and aged 10 months on the lees in double sized French oak barrels.There’s exotic peach and tangerine, citrus and apple aromas. But the palate is ultra-subtle, refreshing and, might I say, zippy for a fat wine like this! Yeah, it’s body is big and it’s not trying to hide it, but the salinity and acidity of the long finish balances it out. There’s also a savory pastry nuance to the whole thing, probably from aging on the fine lees, that’s making my mouth water as I type. Try this if you’ve ever enjoyed Albarino, White Burgundy, White Rhone… okay, if you drink white wine.
Miguel Merino Description
94 points Tim Atkin, MW
"It's easy to overlook Miguel Merino's white, such is the outstanding quality of his reds, but this is a beautiful wine. Viura takes the spotlight here, backed up by 30% Garnacha Blanca. Creamy and rich, there's something almost Viognier-like about it in 2022, with flavours of peaches and cream supported by balancing acidity and attractive baking spice sweetness. 2025-29" - TA
Decanter: 96 Points
"This wine presents wonderful purity – of varieties and vineyard – with direct, precise lemon and salinity, as well as white floral notes. It offers racy acidity and a citrus pithiness, finishing with stone-fruit freshness and a wet-stone character. It's layered, refreshing and deliciously morish."
Wine Advocate: 94 Points
"The only wine not from 2022 this time was the 2023 Blanco, the only white he makes with Garnacha Blanca, planted at the top of La Loma vineyard in 1946, and Viura, taken from different old vineyards where it's interplanted with the red; and in 2023, he also purchased two plots on red sandy soils in the paraje of Los Mártires. The two varieties were picked and fermented separately in 500-liter oak barrels, where the wines matured with lees for 10 months. He looks for acidity, freshness and minerality, and the oak has to play a secondary role. This year it's more Viura, 70%, and the rest Garnacha Blanca, and the wine reached 13.5% alcohol, achieving his goal, with a pH of 3.2 and 6.9 grams of acidity. It has a floral and fruit-driven nose, very clean with subtle herbs and spices. It's elegant and fresh, precise and tasty, long and with potential to improve in bottle."
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