Txabola Viura 2021

Wine description for Txabola Viura 2021 by Maisulan

Colour & appearance

Pale yellow with a fine sheen — clear and vibrant in the glass, as befits a wine from high-altitude vineyards.

Nose

Initially restrained, then increasingly captivating: white blossoms, yellow apple and pear form the fruity foundation without ever seeming opulent. Overlaid are notes of biscuit, a hint of coconut and a touch of marzipan — subtle secondary aromas that lend depth. Dried herbs and grasses complete the picture. A bouquet that whispers rather than shouts, and is all the more compelling for it.

Palate

Full-bodied and creamy, yet surprisingly fresh — a tension rarely found in white wines from Rioja. Ripe apples meet a fine, seemingly sweet spiciness. The wine has grip, substance and remarkable balance: neither the wood nor the 14 per cent alcohol impose themselves. A white that seeks the dining table rather than the solo stage.

Finish

Fairly long, with a delicate bitter note reminiscent of almond skins — a savoury, almost Mediterranean finale that cleanses the palate and leaves one wanting more.

Terroir & origin

The vines are rooted on the slopes of Elvillar in the Rioja Alavesa, in calcareous marl and clay soils with excellent drainage. The vineyard sites lie between 470 and 570 metres, sheltered from Atlantic winds by the Sierra Cantabria. Centuries-old olive trees stand among the bush vines — a terroir that breathes history.

Grape variety & vinification

Viura — the great white grape of Rioja, here sourced from old vines. The grapes from biodynamic cultivation are pressed directly and spontaneously fermented. Maturation takes place over six months in 225- and 500-litre oak casks, one third of which are new. The result: a wine that uses wood as a frame, not as a costume.

Food recommendations

A wine for the dining table: pan-fried monkfish or grilled, accompanied by herb-roasted vegetables. Also an excellent choice with fried hake, mushroom risotto or mature Manchego.

Special features

Eva Fernández and Luis Ruiz de Viñaspre work according to Masanobu Fukuoka’s principle of “do-nothing farming” — minimal intervention, maximum attention. This Viura demonstrates that white wine from the Rioja Alavesa can offer far more than just freshness and simplicity: it possesses structure, depth and ageing potential. It is no coincidence that Tim Atkin describes the duo as “thrilling producers”.