Phinca La Revilla Blanco 2011

"A new vineyard-designated white first produced in 2011, the 2011 Phinca La Revilla is sourced from many different clones of Viura from a 0.68-hectare vineyard in Elvillar planted with red and white grapes in 1925, each vine driven by a stake. The grapes were hand-harvested in ten-kilogram crates, destemmed and foot crushed with a natural fermentation on the skins, pressed and transferred to used 225-liter oak barrels, where the wine matured for six years. The wine had some evaporation, and the barrels were not topped up (and didn't develop any flor), so it has some oxidative notes but does not show its age. It's also quite balsamic, with an aromatic, vermouth-like note, hints of cereals, royal jelly, dried flowers and chamomile, nuanced and complex. This was only racked once (David doesn't like racking wines unless there's a notable reduction). What is amazing here is the palate, which felt layered and textured, with chalky sensations, seriousness, good balance and length. This is quite different from the majority of whites from Rioja. The next vintages will be 2013 and 2014, but no 2012 was produced. Only 987 bottles were filled in October 2017."