2019 Sierra Cantabria Blanco

We are big fans of the entire Sierra Cantabria series and our opinion is also strongly supported by Penin and Robert Parker. Robert Parker JR writes about Sierra Cantabria "An excellent and consistent producer of high-quality wines at realistic prices"

This white Sierra Cantabria Blanco is an atypical white Rioja made from grapes allowed by the appellation but very innovative. The first vintage was the 2016, when they produced less. The first volume comes with the 2018 Blanco. The 2019 is now available and is a somewhat unusual blend of Sauvignon Blanc (30%), Viura (30%), Tempranillo Blanco (25%), Malvasía (10%) and Maturana (5%). Almost a bit French-looking. It is fermented and aged in stainless steel and only the Sauvignon Blanc fermented and aged in (French) oak to give it texture and avoid the excessive aromas. The Maturana has a very high acidity and ensures freshness. It is very different from your average white Rioja. The individual grapes remain on their lees and are only blended at the end after which the wine also undergoes some bottle aging. The wine has fruit and flowers and is light and fresh, but with more complexity and texture. This wine has notes of soft fruit such as pear and mango to ripe citrus fruits, both in the nose and in its palate. The short barrel age also gives the wine a pleasant note from toasted bread to vanilla. A very complete wine with a very wide range of flavors.

Sierra Cantabria embodies the essence of the Eguren family. Over 10 years ago, Marcos and Miguel Eguren created a white wine called "Organza," referring to the light fabric that adorns wedding dresses, signifying its softness and delicacy. A similar reference is made to "Sierra Cantabria Otoman" which refers to another type of silk, made from fabrics produced in Turkey. This substance gives the same vitality and freshness, while maintaining the unique soft characteristics of the Sonsierra environment, where the grapes of this wine come from.

The 2019 cycle started with an autumn with normal rainfall, until early December 150 liters per square meter, slightly below average. The winter was cold and with normal rainfall in the months of December, January and February. At the beginning of March it was extremely dry and cold. April brought cool temperatures and the grapes started to bud slowly. On the night of April 12, temperatures dropped below zero, causing uneven ice damage to some vineyards, particularly the area of Páganos. At the end of April, there were several days of rain, about 70 liters fell in the month. May started with some nights close to zero degrees, with the night of the 5th being special, with some minor damage, especially in the higher regions. Flowering started in the last week of May in the earliest areas, and early June in the higher elevations with variable, dry and cold weather resulting in slow growth with relatively fewer grapes per truss than average. In mid-June, temperatures rose, triggering major vegetative development and accelerating growth. Late June brought high temperatures and, on some days, storms; especially on the 28th, with hail and lots of water in some areas doing some damage, but not major.

Until the end of July there was no significant rainfall, with about 24 liters in San Vicente and 15 liters in Páganos. August was sunny and dry. However, due to the low production and balanced rainfall distribution, the vineyards were in an exceptional condition, without any symptoms of drought, making the ripening of the grapes close to optimal. Early September it was sunny, which brought high expectations due to the low production of the vines and the excellent phytosanitary status.

The harvest started very early for the white varieties, between September 14 and 23, with very good health, high acidity and very good aromatic ripening. The reds were slightly delayed by temperature drops in late September, starting in the first days of October. In summary, 2019 was a generally short harvest with small grapes of excellent quality, which resulted in very well-structured wines, and especially for the white and rose wines, this benefited greatly from the attractive higher acidity than in previous years and with a great aromatic quality.