2016 4 Monos Viticultores, Blanco, Sierra de Gredos, Vinos de Madrid DO, Spain.
The aromatic, mineral driven and crisp 2016 4 Monos Blanco, a blend of organic grapes, about 60% Albillo, 25% Moscatel and 15% Viura showing a range of citrus and yellow stone fruits in a dry package with chalky wet stone highlights and a touch of earthiness. This is a “village” white from vineyards in Cadalso de Los Vidrios and San Martín de Valdeiglesias set in the Sierra de Gredos Mountain Range, not far from Madrid at high elevation on mostly decomposed granite soils. Made in a fresh style the 4 Monos Blanco, is crafted by the team of Javier Garcia (also the head winemaker at Méntrida icon Bodegas Jiménez-Landi), co-winemaker Laura Robles, wine-lover David Velasco, and vineyard holder David Moreno, they used native yeasts for the primary fermentation after cold-macerating the whole clusters for 6 hours, then pressing into a combination of steel tanks and barrels for 40 days, then the 4 Monos Blanco is raked into neutral 300 liter oak casks for 6 months before bottling.
While I have had and love the 4 Monos Garnacha based wines, this was my first experience with their white and it is a unique wine, a bit more rustic that let’s say Gassac Blanc and not as heavy as a white Rhone style wine, it almost has a Loire sensation on the palate with hints of peach and preserved lemons, adding a hint of white flowers, dried herbs, muskmelon and clove. Air allows a sense of texture, while it stays nicely brisk, austere and dusty dry, this 4 Monos Blanco is an interesting food wine that reveals in a cheese pairing or with grilled seafood. This is a winery that is all about a natural and traditional style with an authentic set of wines that show a connection to the regions past and highlights the terroir, especially their reds! Imported by Jose Pastor Selections, 4 Monos are not easy to find, as they are exceptionally limited, but well worth with looking for!
($22 Est.) 90 Points, grapelive