Marques de Murrieta Capellania White Reserva 2015 (750ML)

96 JS / 93 WA / 93 DE / 92 WS / 92 WE

A linear and tight white with superb lemon curd, apple, lemon and creme caramel. Full body, phenolic tension and density give this white form and beauty. Extremely long and flavorful. Drink or hold. - James Suckling

One of two vintages I tasted of the single-vineyard white, the just-bottled 2015 Capellanía was cropped from a warm and healthy year, and the wine matured in new French oak barrels for 15 months. Like it happened with the rosé, the two vintages I tasted of this white—2015 and 2014—are also very different, with 2015 a more homogeneous year and the 2014 quite a bit more challenging. 2015 was a healthy and warm year, and the grapes were picked quickly (they harvest all of these grapes in one and a half days). All of the wines are kept some time in concrete before bottling. This is a powerful and round wine, with stuffing to develop nicely in bottle, a little in the style of the 2012. However, don't think the wine is soft or flabby, as Viura keeps very good acidity and makes wines that are lively and with freshness in the finish. This is, of course, bone dry and nicely textured. These are generously oaked whites that should develop over the years. 54,495 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2019. This will be released in September 2019. - Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate

The Viura plot covers 6 hectares, planted in 1945 on a plateau at an altitude of 485 metres. The wine has been aged for fifteen months in new French oak after fermentation in stainless steel. Green tinges and white gold, then a seductive nose which marries tropic fruit, beeswax, verbena and chamomile. The palate adds chalky, white pepper complexity and hints of pineapple and quince. The tropical and the citric dance an energetic pas de deux; fresh and composed, yet, for all that, one does not entirely lose the distinctive waxy personality of its previous incarnation, when American oak held court. - Simon Field MW, Decanter

This round white is generous yet lively. Bright flavors of peach, quince and lime mingle with coconut and lanolin notes, backed by vibrant acidity. Has the structure for the long haul. Drink now through 2025. - Tom Matthews, Wine Spectator

This may already be five-plus years old, but the lucent light color and bright mix of briny stone fruit, resiny oak, bees wax and spice aromas seem young. This barrel-aged Viura is resiny feeling on the surface but surfs on a stream of zesty acidity. Savory oak, lees, dried papaya and citrus flavors finish long and layered; drink Rioja's answer to white Burgundy through 2035. Michael Schachner, Wine Enthusiast