Vino Blanco, 'Penalba Lopez'

Score

93

"I like the austere, serious and stony profile of the white 2024 Penalba Lopez Vino Blanco, produced with the white varieties in the cooler parts of the property, planted on white sandy soils. It is 40% Albillo, 40% Viura and 20% Chardonnay. The grapes were picked over three passes and fermented in 225-liter barrels, where they went through malolactic fermentation and matured for 13 months. It's young, pale and bright, undeveloped and has a distinct note of cloves. It has good ripeness and 13% alcohol, a pH of 3.2 and six grams of acidity. It finishes dry and with a bitter twist. 9,300 bottles produced. It was bottled unfiltered in October 2025."

Score

93

"I'm always surprised by the austere and serious profile of the white, and this year, it's the 2023 Peñalba López Vino Blanco, from a year that suffered frost and decimated the white grapes. It's mineral, with notes of flowers, herbs and spices and an earthy touch. It has a medium-bodied palate, pungent flavors and a chalky mouthfeel. It went through malolactic and still kept a pH of 3.05 and 6.8 grams of acidity. This goes beyond the varieties"40% Viura, 30% Albillo Mayor and 30% Chardonnay, as they had no Albillo Real this year. It matured in barrel for 17 months. 4,023 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2023."

Score

92

"I love the austerity and seriousness of the white 2022 Peñalba López Vino Blanco that goes beyond the unusual varietal mix of 40% Chardonnay and 20% each Albillo Mayor, Albillo Real and Viura, coming through as stony and mineral, very apt for the table. It has moderate ripeness and 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.15, which denotes freshness, finishing with a subtle bitter twist. It matured in barrel for 13 months, but the wood is not an important element in the aromatics or flavors. 9,533 bottles produced."