Description
MONTE Viejo is a tremendously fresh, modern Spanish white from the ancient Ramón Roqueta winery, the winemaking roots of which date back to 1199.
The family are based in Pla de Bages in northeast Spain, just northwest of Barcelona, where they have very up-to-the minute winemaking facilities and control about 95% of the DO production in this tiny appellation. Such is the reputation of their richly fruity wines that they can be found on the wine list of top restaurant El Bulli.
The family has recently bought some vineyards in central Spain's La Mancha (Castilla is the vino de la tierra of the area). They sourced some of the fruit for this wine from there and some from growers they work with in the region.
Using the same ultra-modern techniques as he does for the Pla de Bages wines, winemaker Juan Soler carefully cool ferments the grapes at a low temperature in stainless steel vats to capture all the freshness and zingy, lemony fruit of the Macabeo grape.
Also known as Viura, this variety is grown all over Spain and is the main constituent of white Rioja. In the hands of unscrupulous producers, its wines can be neutral, but when harvested at lower yields, it can offer delicious herbal freshness with light, lemony apricot notes.
The variety usefully buds late, avoiding Spring frosts, and can withstand hot and arid conditions and still retain lots of bright, fresh acidity.
Price excludes 
100% 
