Vina Ijalba Maturana Blanca 2024

Vina Ijalba Maturana Blanca 2024

Vina Ijalba
$24.00

Grape: Maturana Blanca
Vintage: 2024
Type: White

This organic white wine is a pure varietal expression of maturana blanca, the oldest documented grape variety in Rioja. Viña Ijalba cultivates the fruit from a single parcel of poor, shallow soils over a solid limestone bedrock to curb vigor. The grapes undergo a gentle pressing and a low-intervention fermentation driven entirely by native wild vineyard yeasts. The wine undergoes a brief maturation process in neutral French oak barrels to preserve its crisp natural acidity.

It displays a bright straw-yellow hue with golden glints, releasing expressive aromas of green apple, white peach, and wild fennel. A high-toned beam of acidity slices directly through a surprisingly rich, textural mid-palate. Subtle notes of struck match and grapefruit oil add depth across the fluid core without wood flavor dominance. The mouthfeel delivers a fine phenolic grip and distinct physical weight that remains balanced and agile. It finishes long, savory, and completely dry.

Viña Ijalba is a pioneering family-owned estate in Rioja, established in 1991 by Dionisio Ruiz Ijalba, who began transforming abandoned open-cast mines and gravel pits into high-quality vineyards as early as 1975. Located near Logroño, the winery is distinguished as the first in Rioja to be certified organic, maintaining a deep commitment to biodiversity and environmental sustainability through practices like wastewater recycling and the use of native yeasts. The estate is globally recognized for its research into recovering near-extinct autochthonous grape varieties, having been the first to produce single-varietal wines from grapes such as Graciano, Maturana Blanca, Maturana Tinta, and Tempranillo Blanco. Their winemaking approach blends modern technology with traditional soul, utilizing a mix of concrete vats and both French and American oak to create wines that prioritize fruit purity and terroir expression. By focusing on poor, stony soils and low-yield viticulture, Viña Ijalba produces a diverse range of labels—from fresh, unoaked styles to structured Reservas—that represent a unique third way between the region's classic traditions and contemporary innovation.