Queirón, Rioja DOC (Spain) Tempranillo Blanco 2019

 Tempranillo Blanco is a white mutation of Tempranillo that was authorized for White Rioja in 2004.  Queirón’s Capital Essay No 2 – the English translation of this wine’s name – is the winery’s adventure into making this exhilarating white grape into a delicious and complex white wine.  The winery starts with a cold maceration to extract enhanced aroma and flavor as well as a bit of color.  Then, they temperature control the fermentation before finishing the alcoholic fermentation in neutral French oak with batônnage, stirring of the lees.  The combination of processes enables freshness and complexity within the wine.  Finally, the wine is transferred into a clay jar for further elevage before bottling.  The resulting wine is complex with a rich, round body and flavors that range from dried apricots, vanilla fondant, and yellow apples to dried honeysuckle and walnuts.  Ensayos Capitales, Núm 2 is a serious wine for enthusiasts seeking out complexity, power, and elegance.