With three Golds and 96 points, this is a stellar white Rioja. It’s the flagship of Altos, a cellar founded in 2006 by Jean-Marc Sauboua, already with 260 Golds. Old-vine Viura and Chardonnay, fermented in barrel, it's intense, citrusy and toasty.
Haut-Brion trained Jean-Marc Sauboua was born and raised in Bordeaux, but is also half Spanish. For many years he’s made wine for us all over the world, Bordeaux in particular, but when he decided to start a project of his own, Rioja was his only thought. And only the very highest parts of the appellation. Right from the start Jean-Marc’s aim was to make a Grand Cru style of Rioja, wines full of fruit with balanced oak. Pigeage (pron. pea jarge), two reds and one white, are his flagship wines and in just 11 vintages have won over 150 Golds. Old-vine Viura and high-grown Chardonnay, fermented in French oak, this is intensely citrusy with toasty oak and mineral zip. The finest release yet thanks to a cool vintage. A superb dinner party white.
