Campo Viejo, Rioja Viura-Tempranillo Blanco 2015
Rioja, Spain, Dry White, DIAM, 12.0% abv(2016) This is only the second Tempranillo Blanco I have tasted (in this case blended with Viura). Tempranillo is a red wine grape, and this is not a blanc de noirs, a white wine made from a red wine grape, but a recently discovered white mutation of the red Tempranillo that has now been propagated to commercial qualities. It shares 97% of its DNA with its red sibling. Campo Viejo's rendition offers summery, fresh, crisp apple and pear aromas with a twist of lemon, before a palate filled with gentle citrus and modest acid structure, but enough to give it fresh if fruity and simple appeal. It's hardly the most profound of white Riojas, but it's fun to introduce this new variety.