Quinta da Muradella, Gorvia Blanco, Monterrei, Spain, 2014

Gorvia is one of José’s single vineyards, from a 1ha steep slope near the castle of Monterrei in Verín, where the 27yo vines are planted by massale selection in a clay, slate soil with high metal content. Here José Luis has settled on tiny yields of just 12hh to fully capture all the potential of Doña Blanca from which he fashions the ‘best Doña Blanca on earth’ (Luis Gutierrez), ageing for a year in older foudres, and then two years in stainless steel before bottling unfined and unfiltered. It is vibrant, complex, intense and impeccably balanced with some yellow plum and citrus fruit, acacia and pollen notes, minerals, salty and savoury, with attractive bitters on a long finish.