Luis Cañas Viñas Viejas Blanco 2021/23

Luis Cañas Viñas Viejas Blanco is bottled in a Burgundy shaped bottle and named to reflect the age of the vines used for its production (60+ years old). These lovely old vines produce a low yield of grapes with concentrated flavours. Luis Cañas Viñas Viejas Blanco is a complex wine. Many people avoid oaked wines but this wine is worth trying with its aromas of citrus fruits, hazelnuts and hints of flowers the oak touch is very light and subtle.

This elegant dry white wine has lemony freshness and a light honeyed roundness of flavours. It is complex with excellent structure and length.  What makes this wine special is the combination of grapes from mature vines – the vibrant and citrussy Viura and elegant, slightly richer Malvasia – coupled with the meticulous work in the vineyards and in the winery of this family producer.

This wine receives consistently great reviews – see below Tim Atkin MW – 91 Points for the 2021 vintage and 93 Points for 2023 vintage.

How the wine is made

Throughout the year the vines are tended and pruned to increase ventilation which promotes healthy grapes. The 60 year old vines are situated on the slopes and terraces of limestone and clay and grown with organic practices. Hand-picked grapes are taken to the Bodega in small boxes, once there they are hand-selected on two mistral tables so that only the best fruit goes into the fermentation process. It is fermented for 17 days in French barrels before ageing for 5 months on its lees in new French and American oak barrels.

About the Producer

Family-run Luis Cañas is one of the top Rioja producers, they are located in one of the best areas in Rioja Alavesa and they take meticulous care of the their vineyards and every stage of the process through to the delicious wine in your bottle. Every year this excellent white Rioja wins awards and sells out!! Luis Cañas also make wonderful red Riojas which you can also find in our Wine Shop.

Reviews:

It is best described as a modern, lightly oaked white Rioja beautifully structured and very long; it is by far the best value, high quality white Rioja we have tasted, and it has been highly rated by Tim Atkin MW in his Rioja Reports 2022 and 2023.

2021 vintage

“Pedro Pablo Amurrio makes this old-vine white from an assemblage of Viura and 15% Malvasía Riojana. Subtly oaked in new and older barrels, it has pear, lime and yellow apple flavours and a dusting of cinnamon spice. Drink 2023-26. 91 Points,  Tim Atkin MW; Special Rioja Report 2023”

2023 vintage

2019 & 2020 vintages

“Parcels with an average age of 58 years supply the grapes for this stylishly wooded blend of Viura with 10% Malvasía Riojana. Dense, but not overpowering, with lime and orange peel flavours, subtle oak spices and a waxy mid palate. 91 Points. Drink 2022 – 2026. Tim Atkin MW; Special Rioja Report 2022.

“Juan Luis Cañas uses old-vine parcels of Viura and 10% Malvasia (Rojal) from Leza, Navaridas and his homebase of Villabuena to make this lightly wooded white. Creamy, yet refreshing, with pear, quince and citrus fruit, some cinnamon spice and a good underlying concentration. 91 Points. Drink 2021 – 2025.” [2019 Vintage] Tim Atkin MW; Special Rioja Report 2020.

Check out our competitive price – sells in Independent Wine Merchants £19.95 – £23

Food match:  A brilliant partner with smoked salmon. It is also excellent with all seafood and shellfish, chicken, pork, vegetarian dishes and mild cheeses.