{"product_id":"2022-maranones-blanco-picarana-albillo","title":"2022 Marañones Blanco Picarana Albillo","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe 2022 Marañones Blanco Picarana Albillo is a captivating white from the rugged hills of the Sierra de Gredos, west of Madrid. Crafted from the rare indigenous Albillo Real grape, it offers a textured, mineral-driven alternative to more familiar Spanish whites. This cuvée has become a reference point for Gredos whites, showing how old vines and high-altitude vineyards can produce wines of both restraint and character.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the glass, the 2022 Picarana shows a pale straw to light gold hue, with a subtle, luminous brightness that hints at its freshness and altitude. The nose is quietly complex rather than overtly aromatic: expect notes of stone fruit (white peach, apricot), ripe pear, fennel and chamomile, layered with hints of almond, beeswax, and a distinct saline-mineral edge from the granitic soils.\n\nOn the palate, the wine is medium-bodied with a supple, almost waxy texture typical of Albillo Real, balanced by a precise line of acidity that keeps everything taut and food-friendly. Flavors of pear, baked apple, lemon zest and white flowers are interwoven with savory herbal tones and a stony, almost chalk-dust minerality that lingers on the finish. The structure and texture suggest that the 2022 vintage will drink beautifully now but can easily evolve over 3–6 years, gaining more nutty, honeyed complexity while retaining its backbone.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMarañones sources Picarana from old-vine Albillo Real parcels rooted in the granitic, sandy soils of the Sierra de Gredos at notable altitude. The continental climate, with hot days and cool nights, helps preserve acidity and aromatic detail while achieving full phenolic ripeness. Grapes are typically farmed organically (with a strong lean toward biodynamic practices), harvested by hand in small boxes, and carefully sorted to ensure only pristine fruit makes it to the winery. Vinification generally involves a gentle pressing of whole clusters, followed by a spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts, often in large neutral oak or a combination of tank and older barrels to avoid overt wood influence. The wine is then aged on its lees for additional texture and complexity, with minimal intervention and restrained use of sulfur to preserve purity and a clear expression of terroir.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood \u0026amp; Serving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis Albillo Real is highly versatile at the table, pairing beautifully with grilled or roasted white fish, seafood stews, octopus, and shellfish, as well as simply prepared poultry, roast chicken with herbs, or veal in light sauces. Its texture and subtle nuttiness also make it an excellent match for semi-soft cheeses, jamón ibérico, and dishes featuring fennel, almonds, or saffron. Serve at 10–12°C (50–54°F) to highlight both freshness and complexity; a quick 20–30 minutes in the fridge before serving is usually ideal. While not mandatory, decanting for about 20 minutes can help the wine open up aromatically, especially in its first few years.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBodegas Marañones is one of the key artisan producers leading the quality revolution in the Sierra de Gredos, a mountainous region that has rapidly gained attention for its high-altitude vineyards and old vines. Founded with a focus on expressing individual parajes (single sites) through low-intervention winemaking, the estate works primarily with indigenous varieties such as Albillo Real and Garnacha. Their commitment to organic and biodynamic farming, careful parcel selection, and sensitive cellar work has made Marañones a benchmark for elegant, terroir-driven wines from central Spain. The Picarana cuvée, in particular, has helped showcase Albillo Real as a serious, ageworthy white variety capable of nuance, texture, and minerality on par with some of Europe’s great terroirs.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bodegas Marañones","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54255060451665,"sku":"GCW-MARO-22012711","price":39.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/0614\/9969\/files\/2022_Maraones_Blanco_Picarana_Albillo.png?v=1783456372","url":"https:\/\/bottlehero.com\/products\/2022-maranones-blanco-picarana-albillo","provider":"Bottle Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}