Score: 88/100
Founded in 1994 by Mr. Tomás Martínez de Cañas, Bodegas Zintzo is a family-owned winery settled in the Rioja Alavesa area.
They produce a complete range of Rioja wines, from the Blanco tasted here to a Vino de Autor, Joven and Crianza.
The white Rioja a made from 100% Viura grapes, the traditional classic white variety in Rioja.
What’s more unusual and unique though, if that the vines are pretty old with more than 50 years of age.
It’s elaborated through a standard white-winemaking process, of cold-settling after pressing, cold fermentation at around 14 degrees celsius in stainless steel tanks.
So how good is this 2015 Zintzo Blanco ?
The answer is in the tasting notes:
This blanco comes in a bright lemon-yellow color of medium-intensity. Nice yellow that matches nicely bottles’ packaging and capsule. A pleasant touch! See picture.
The nose is fresh, mineral and citrusy.
Not a lot of intensity but an elegance from its discretion. Lifted and refreshingly crisp to smell. A few aromatic herbs, and a touch of petrol provide a little depth to the aromatic profile.
Mouthfeel is dominated by a crisp acidity.
It’s dry, zesty and citrusy. Yet, a decent weight counterbalances the sharpness. A solid concentration overall all, providing big amounts of herbal and fruity citrus flavors. A bit of tropical and pear notes completes the fruity spectrum. Rather long finish too.
Overall
A very good zesty concentrated wine offering plenty of fresh citrus notes and great acidity together with weight and powerful aromatics.
This is meant to be enjoyed with food to coat the palate against the concentrated acidity.
It will match perfectly with tapas and subtle creamy seafood or fish entrees.
The power of the wine will allow it to be paired with a great variety of dishes, including powerfully-flavored such as grilled fish or herb-seasoned barbecued white meats.
Please let me know your thoughts