Rioja Blanco Mirando al Sur, Olivier Riviere 2017

The 2017 Mirando al Sur is a special white matured in a sherry barrel, and it's completely different from previous vintages. Olivier Rivière told me EVERY vintage is different, and the 2018 is also different, with a wider palate and without reduction. This 2017 is quite reductive, leesy and flinty à la Coche-Dury with notes of toasted sesame seeds, very Burgundian, looking more north than south this time... There's also a spicy side with notes of clove and licorice and a very Viura texture, ripe without excess with the roundness of 2017 (this doesn't go through full malolactic either). It had a longer élevage in the sherry butt (24 months rather than the 18 months before), and the wine is polished and nicely textured, with a dry, chalky finish. 2,000 bottles were filled in late 2019. A white of strong personality.