Dominius Del Marquesado Rioja Blanco, 2008 - Laithwaites

Rioja, like Port and, to a lesser extent, Bordeaux, is generally best-known for its red wines with its whites being somewhere between also-rans and minor curiosities.

Made from the relatively-neutral and slightly obscure Viura grape (which does not get even a mention in many wine books), white Rioja can be a bit of a let-down.

This example from family-owned firm and top-league winery Martinez Bujanda formed part of a Laithwaites mystery case I bought a while ago and was well-made if unashamedly old-school. Relatively neutral on the nose, the palate is lemony but weighty and full-bodied from time presumably spent in old oak (no toffee-butteriness here); the tannins are well-integrated and the finish is long and smooth.

Match with simple, full-bodied foods such as meaty white fish, pasta in a creamy sauce or tapas.

£8.99 plus delivery from Laithwaites.

Links

Martinez Bujanda - http://www.familiamartinezbujanda.com/inicio/index.php?acc=home&idc=1&ln=1

Laithwaites - http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/