Review: Ossian Quintaluna 2013 Verdejo
- vinterest
- Jun 17, 2015
- 1 min read
The low-down: There's a fascinating plethora of Spanish whites out there of which we have a limited understanding. We tried a 1999 R Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva Blanco earlier this year, and more recently a 2013 Pares Balta Penedes Blanc de Pacs at Okku in Dubai.
Ossian is a family run wine-maker (33ha under vine), currently headed up by Ismael Gozolo that possess some very special 160 year old Verdejo vines that have been protected from phylloxera and are therefore un-grafted. They following organic farming and focus only on the Verdejo grape.
The Quintaluna, with only 60% old vine, is one of the more affordable in their range of wines, and set us back 24 Euros.
The take: Lemony yellow appearance, very transparent, with some slow legs. From the bottle the nose is initially bitter with eggplant - in fact it smells a bit like beer. In the glass a buttery nose with candied lemon and coconut. Smooth attack. Butter on the palate too. Sour, thick mouthfeel. Slight effervescence. Feels like a meal in the mouth - solid, almost savoury. Definitely unique. Hints of bitter grapefruit, peach and malt.
In closing: From left field.
Rating: 7 out of 10.
Fact corner:
Country: Spain
Region: Tierra de Castilla Y Leon
Producer: Ossian
Vintage: 2013
Grape: Verdejo
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Serving temperature: 7-10°
Price range: Mid-range
Opmerkingen