The skin macerated (one week only) Malvasia 2021 is aromatic, textural and so complex. From a 69-year-old vineyard, it exudes notes of orange blossom, dried herbs, quince and grapefruit. Lastly, for only R199, La Nave Blanco 2020 is an intriguing blend of 65% Viura and 35% Garnacha Blanca. Matured in concrete, it’s fresh fruited and complemented by subtle brioche and white florals. This is the perfect midweek white.
Rioja ‘n’ Roll Laventura from Bryan MacRobert
Rioja ‘n’ Roll Laventura
From Bryan MacRobert
‘If you like the white wines of Sadie Family and Alheit Vineyards, these offer great nuanced differences at value prices.’ – James Pietersen
Every so often we pull the cork on a wine that flies below the radar and we’re astonished by its deft craftmanship. We experienced this recently with Bryan MacRobert’s Laventura wines. Alongside Rioja ’n’ Roll Young Guns Artuke and Alonso & Pedrajo, South African-born Bryan is shaking things up in the Spanish wine capital with his delicious, modern take on white Rioja – ideal for tapas-style dining.
Having cut his teeth at Sadie Family Wines and then Terroir al Límit in Priorat, Bryan’s aim is to showcase the best varietal and terroir expressions from old dryland-farmed bush vines. 2021 was a low-yielding vintage because of hail storms, but it's considered excellent in quality and in line with Rioja’s greatest vintages. The Laventura Viura 2021 is delicate and delineated, offering complex orchard and stone fruit with a fine salinity that’s often seen in SA’s top-end wines. This will excite the Chenin Blanc lover!