Oscar Tobia, 'Cuvée Blanco', NV, Rioja (DOCa)

'One-Liner'
A bright, easy-going Rioja white with citrus, orchard fruit and a lightly creamy, rounded finish.

Tasting Note
Pale lemon in the glass. The nose is lively and fruit-forward, showing pear, citrus and tropical notes, with a soft floral lift and a little extra complexity from barrel work. On the palate it feels fresh but not sharp, with ripe fruit, balanced acidity and a gentle creamy breadth that keeps it nicely rounded. Clean, expressive and very easy to enjoy.

Country: Spain
Region: Rioja DOCa
Sub-Region: n/a
Grape(s): 28% Sauvignon Blanc, 26% Tempranillo Blanco, 22% Chardonnay, 18% Viura, 4% Maturana Blanca, 2% Garnacha Blanca 
ABV: 13%
Friendly: Vegan, Vegetarian, Sustainable

Awards & Critics' Scores
n/a

The Story
Bodegas Tobía was founded by Óscar Tobía in 1994 and has built a reputation around a more modern, innovation-led take on Rioja. Cuvée Blanco sits as an accessible, drink-now white in the range, and producer material describes it as a wine for lighter dishes and informal drinking. The NV format appears to be built from more than one vintage, with trade sources describing it as a multi-vintage blend, which helps explain the extra layering and rounded feel compared with a very simple young blanco.

Perfect With... (click me for the recipe)
Meat/fish: Sea Bass with Lemon, Parsley and Olive Oil

Vegetarian: Courgette and goat’s cheese tart with a lemon-dressed salad

Vegan: Butter bean, fennel and lemon traybake with herbs