2018 Palo Blanco Orotava

An outstanding white from the Valle de la Orotava, the 2018 Palo Blanco is named after a zone or "paraje" from the village of Los Realejos that produced Listán Blanco of a strong and different personality. In 2018, they used a further two plots, one at 500 and the other one at 850 meters in altitude, all three planted with centenary "cordón trenzado" braided vines. This is only 11.5% alcohol and has great acidity, a pH of three and seven grams of acidity after full malolactic. Sixty-five percent of the volume matured in 2,500-liter oval oak vats and the rest in 228-liter barriques. This is sharp, vertical, mineral and austere, a white made with rocks—it's pure rock juice (think Vatan or Bageiras), the most mineral of the whites they make. It has some notes of chamomile and combines power and elegance. This is a groundbreaking, world-class white, way better than previous vintages. And it's made from a variety that people say is second class... second class to none! 9,700 bottles produced. It's the largest production to date, and it was bottled in January 2020.