La del Vivo, La Vizcaina de Vinos, Bierzo, 2021
A gorgeous year for whites, the 2021 is reminiscent of the super-vibrant and linear 2018; a stylistic feel that has been accentuated by the move to aging in top quality Hosch foudrés in place of demi-muids and barriques. Cool, wiry elegant white fruits, citrus and stones, it has a long, focused finish. Produced from two plots, one in La Poulosa planted in 1936 and one in the village of Cacabelos, new in 2020. 95% Godello and 5% Dona Blanca.
critic reviews
The cooler 2021 produced very fresh whites; they started picking grapes with 12.1% to 12.2% alcohol, and the 2021 La Vizcaina La del Vivo has a profile similar to the 2018. They don't do malolactic in their whites, and the wines have very good freshness and acidity. It comes from two plots on clay and sand. Part of the wine was fermented and aged in tinaja and developed some flor that gives the wine a very tasty and spicy twist. This is the first year when they only used foudres (no more barrels). The lees are never stirred, and the profile of the wine is not leesy. There is austerity, and it is bone-dry, with the oak neatly folded into the wine. 9,000 bottles produced.