Finca Allende, the estate created by Brother and sister team Mercedes and Miguel Angel de Gregorio, is located in the hill town of Briones in the Rioja Alta. ‘Allende’ can be roughly translated as ‘further’; its philosophy is to go further and further towards creating the perfect Rioja. This has been done by marrying the old and the new, by embracing the traditional grape varieties but then treating them to new French oak. A further distinguishing characteristic, apart from their ripeness and structure, is that Allende’s best wines are vineyard-based, with focus on the expression of Rioja’s varied terroir.
Finca Allende’s Rioja Blanco is made from 95% Viura and 5% Malvasia. These are 55-year-old bush vines which produce wines of incredible concentration thanks to the low yields. Although only a small portion of the blend, the Malvasia adds an incredible vibrancy to the nose. Ripe apricot, peach and saffron aromas dominate alongside more subtle hints of grapefruit and honeysuckle. Over a year in French oak contributes gentle and well-integrated cedar and nutmeg notes, which add an extra layer of complexity.
