Josp Serra gives us a fantastic textured Mediterranean white, beautifully rich, yet free of excess glyerol and florality. In DO Terra Alta, Josep grows Garnatxa Blanca from several plots around the village of Gandesa, in the locale known as AucalÌÊ. The landscape here is dominated by Mediterranean pine.

Rich with some barrel spiciness, the nose has the smell of nutty tannin in fresh-cut white fruit - custard apple, feijoa ... and a touch of earthier spiced quince. The palate is a joyful romp of rich, buoyant fruit wonderfully constrained structurally by extremely neat spice, tannin grip from oak, fine acidity and flashing minerals a-plenty. There's orchard-fruit perfume a-plenty in the back palate with lovely acidity, and a touch of refreshing astringency to close. Such a cleverly constructed (and delicious!) wine.

-TSA