Mixtura, Independent Wines 2020

The 2020 Mixtura Blanco fermented in a 2,450-liter Stockinger oak cask that was first used for the 2019 wine, so the influence from the wood is subtler but it's still there. It's 50% Treixadura on sandy granite soils in Ribeiro and 50% Albariño from the zone of Melgaço in Portugal on granite and clay soils. It fermented and stayed in the foudre until it was needed for the next harvest, then transferred to concrete tulips, where it matured for one more year. It has a perfumed nose and a creamy touch, spicy and smoky but subtle and elegant, and the palate is velvety with pungent flavors, good ripeness, 13% alcohol and nice balance, still young and with good length. Clean and modern. It should develop nicely in bottle. 10,000 bottles were filled in August 2022. Drink 2023 - 2029.

Following from the resounding success of the first vintage, the 2020 Mixtura is once again a fascinating blend of Treixadura from Ribeiro (Spain) with Albariño from vineyards in Rias Baixas (Spain) and across the Miño river in Vinho Verde (Portugal). Pale straw in colour. The fruit on the nose has a distinctly savoury edge, offering salted limes and nutty orchard fruits. The palate is silky and layered, with a rich, creamy note akin to top Chablis. Fresh almond, roasted chestnut and tangy baked apples all come through. Unique and layered on the finish, a worthy successor to the 2019.

Winemaker Gutier Seijo Otero works with vineyards and native grapes that form the landscape and cultural history along the Miño River. Since his wines often contain grapes from both the Spanish and Portuguese sides of the river, it is not entitled to a specific appellation. The Treixadura is from decomposed granite soils in Ribeiro and the Albariño comes from Condado del Tea in Rías Baixas and Melgaço in Vinho Verde. Varieties are fermented separately in Austrian oak foudre, and matured in the same spending 12 months on lees, before blending into concrete tanks, where they age for a further 12 months. No sign of the vintage on the enigmatic label.
Very concentrated and lively with real depth. There's a smell of a really good patisserie in here. Great grip. This is wine that makes such an impact on the palate (which I see I have also written about its stablemate)! Very exciting wine with such a story to tell. Green fruits and granite and grip – all the GRs ... And may I add groundbreaking? So long. Is this scary pricing the new normal? Anyone interested in what's going on in Iberian white wine should try this.