Masdache 2018

-- Parker: The 2018 Masdache is a Listán Blanco-based blend from the Masdache village of La Geria en Lanzarote. The blend contains some 35% Malvasía and 5% Diego that were selected from cooler parts of a single vineyard so the resulting wine would be dry and vertical with good acidity. Whites are fermented at low temperature with indigenous yeasts after being foot trodden in a lagar pool and kept in stainless steel for some seven months. All the grapes fermented together, but the Diego was greener, as it ripens almost one month later than Malvasía. Because of the higher percentage of Listán Blanco, it has a slightly more austere nose, which makes it a little more vertical and less aromatic. This has a slightly more reductive character (often associated with Listán Blanco), which adds to the austere/closed character of the wine that also has an herbal and faintly bitter side. It should develop nicely in bottle. This is also saltier/tastier from a characterful vineyard cultivated by a local grower called Ascensión Robayna who works everything organically. This is really tasty, vertical and electric and can show the potential of La Geria vineyards to produce super mineral whites. Bravo! Only 600 bottles. It was bottled in March 2019. 93/100