Finca La Emperatriz Blanco 2018

The white 2018 Finca la Emperatriz Blanco is the first of two estate bottlings, looking for finesse and aging potential with complexity and freshness in the style of a grand vin from Bordeaux. It's balsamic and complex despite its youth, with incipient notes of chamomile, verbena and pollen and a round palate with a dry finish. 14,000 bottles and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in April 2020. It seems like this will qualify as a Viñedo Singular, the new single-vineyard wine category from Rioja. I had the chance to follow the 2017, which is evolving quite fast, and the 2016, which is aging more gracefully.

Fresh and creamy nose with some sweet vanilla, spices and lemons. A full-bodied white with fresh but supple acidity, delivered in a creamy, smooth palate. Drink now.

his superb white is a pure Viura from the cooler zone of Baños de Rioja, deftly wooded in French oak followed by a year in concrete. White flower aromas segue into a palate that's tangy and stony, with lime and citrus flavours, plenty of extract and concentration and a peppery finish. Will age well. 2023-30