Bodegas Ponce - Manchuela Reto 2021

Juan Antonio Ponce isn’t one to turn away from a challenge. In Manchuela he takes on a white grape, Albilla, which is practically unknown in the US, or even Spain. If enough people drink Reto, that will change soon, but you’ll have to get it while you can: he only makes 500 cases of it. This is largely due to the minuscule yields he hand-harvests from his 60 to 80 year old vines, which results in a nervy, concentrated, medium-bodied white with plenty of texture from eight months on the lees. Dry and rich, it shows a palate of white fruits & salinity, with notes of honey and apple skins, and a touch of savory herbs.

"The best vintage of this wine so far. It was produced with the local Albilla grape, a grape that can transmit an incredible sense of freshness in a warm place like Manchuela. They now have new vineyards that they planted in the village of Villanueva de la Jara that ripen up to 15 days later and deliver vibrant wines with a more pungent saline sensation and an electric mouthfeel. This is sharp and austere, mineral and electric when young, with an intense salinity and a vibrant and electric finish. Unbelievable for the price."