Altos R Pigeage Blanco Rioja 2022

From one of Spain’s most lauded wine cellars (600+ awards and counting!), situated high above the clouds in Rioja’s northern Rioja Alavesa sub-zone, Altos R Pigeage Blanco, is a seductive, oh-so-rich white, made with Rioja’s star white grape, Viura.

Altos de Rioja’s flagship ‘Pigeage’ wines are beloved by our many Rioja fans—and are always smash hits on the international awards circuit. Previous vintages of this particular bottle have earned multiple gold medals and 90+ point scores.

So, what’s setting these wines apart? It starts with premium grapes, carefully tended and hand harvested when they're at their ripest. Back in the winery, head winemaker Amaia Amestoy (below) is eqaully meticulous, employing the wines' eponymous pigeage method—the local name for mannually punching down the grape skins as the wine ferments—that slowly extracts color, flavor and tannins to create a richer, more flavorful bottling. then she lets the stuff rest for a whole year in French oak barrels.

Look forward to aromas of ripe orchard fruit notes, underpinned by subtle floral characters. The palate follows through with juicy peach flavors, supported by hints of citrus fruits. The finish is long and smooth, with a creamy vanilla edge.

You’ll have to hurry for a taste, though. Amaia and Jean-Marc made painfully few cases.