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Winery: Bodegas Remírez de Ganuza

Country / Region: Spain / DO Rioja

Date Winery was established: 1989

Grape Variety: Viura & Malvasia

Year the vintage was first released: 2008

Alcohol Content / Volume: 13.5% / 750ml

Ratings: 95 pts. Tim Atkin

Good to Know: Remírez de Ganuza Blanco Reserva 2022 is an elegant white Rioja made primarily from Viura with Malvasía, Garnacha Blanca, and other native varieties sourced from old vines in Rioja Alavesa. Crafted only from free-run juice, it is fermented and then aged for 8–10 months in French oak barriques, with lees stirred through barrel rotation to build texture and complexity. The result is a bright straw-yellow wine with aromas of white stone fruit, lemon peel, floral notes, and delicate toasty spice. On the palate, it shows a silky, creamy texture balanced by vibrant acidity, mineral nuances, and a long, refined finish with hints of fennel seed, white pepper, and well-integrated oak. Both versatile and age-worthy, it pairs beautifully with seafood dishes like grilled hake and paella, as well as with mature cheeses such as Manchego.

This wine is crafted from the flower must, extracted using a rotor deposit method that avoids crushing the grapes. It then undergoes a 6-month fermentation and aging process with its lees in French oak barrels. The remaining maturation process occurs in the bottle. The lees are stirred by manually turning the barrels, a unique system employed by the winery in place of traditional bâtonnage techniques.

The 2023 vintage of Remírez de Ganuza Blanco Reserva is an exceptional white wine from Rioja Alavesa that beautifully marries Burgundian complexity with Spanish terroir. Sourced from vines between 60 and 80 years old, this release is crafted primarily from Viura, blended with Malvasía and other local varietals. What makes this vintage significant is its meticulous vinification: it is made exclusively from unpressed free-run juice (mosto flor) and aged in new French oak barrels, utilizing a unique barrel-rotation system developed by the winery instead of traditional bâtonnage. In the glass, it displays an elegant bouquet of ripe stone fruit, citrus peel, and white flowers, seamlessly accented by subtle hints of mint and creamy pastry. On the palate, it is full-bodied, structured, and incredibly fresh, balancing vibrant acidity and striking minerality with a persistent, lightly saline finish. Because of its immense depth, refined tension, and creamy texture, this superb white Rioja demands elegant, richly flavored dishes; it pairs exceptionally well with grilled sea bass, fresh shellfish, savory rice dishes, and delicate white meats.