Bodegas Perica 'Finca Valdelascarretas' Viñedo Singular Reserva Blanco Rioja 2020

We were extremely excited to taste an illicit sample of this wine at the backend of 2023, and have been waiting patiently for it to land in the UK, for real. We have plenty of fans of Perica's wines, specifically their entry level 'Olagosa' Blanco. By comparison, this is a serious step up. This is Viura from a single vineyard, planted in 1975. The concentration and texture may well come from the old, established vines, but is likely helped by the long 36 month ageing process in new French oak barrels. It has also sat in bottle for 14 months. On the nose, it has aromas of pear, apricot, orange peel, honey and dried fruits. There are saline notes and well marked acidity. This is a fresh white, perfect to pair with seafood. 

Bodegas Perica is a family business that has been producing wine in Rioja since 1912. Now in the hands of the third generation of the Garcia family. The founder, Don Juan Garcia, produced wines that were just distributed locally, but as his son, Don David, took over it became a more sophisticated enterprise with investment in new winery equipment and registration with the Consejo Regulador Denominación de Origen Rioja. David’s nickname in the family was Perica, which was adopted as the new name bodega. Ironically ‘agarrar una perica’ means ‘to get sloshed’… Bodegas Perica own 150 hectares of vineyards in Rioja Alta. With their winery and cellars located in San Asensio, just south of the Ebro river.