Manga del Brujo Blanco 2018

This is something no white wine fan should miss ...

Manga del Brujo (in red) was the first wine Norrel Robertson ever made at his famed El Escocés Volante estate in Aragón. It’s been more than 10 years now, and not only has Manga snapped up huge points and acclaim with each release, it’s gained almost a cult-like following with wine fans all over the world. So of course, as soon as Norrel revealed he made a luscious “little sister” white, we jumped.

Norrel’s a fan of Chardonnay, but he’s an even bigger fan of Spain’s native Macabeo grape, which thrives in hot, dry climes like rugged Calatayud. Thanks to the especially dry summer in 2018, his old Macabeo vines – planted at a dizzying 2,900 feet above sea level – produced grapes with exceptional richness, vibrancy, and flavor complexity. It was an excellent vintage, and Norrel (“a wine maverick,” says JancisRobinson.com) took full advantage.

Grapes were carefully hand harvested and gently pressed (to preserve delicacy and nuance), then treated to a long, slow fermentation (partially in French oak barrels). We’ll let the man himself speak to the delicious results:

“This wine mixes the ripe fruit of the 2018 vintage with some more austere, mineral, smoky notes and floral aromas. We aged it on its lees, adding an unctuous element. It’s exquisitely balanced with refreshing acidity and a long smooth finish. My Manga blanco will age superbly in bottle for a few more years, but it’s also offering up delicious drinking right now. This is a wine to try for anyone looking for an affordable alternative to a very high-class Chardonnay.”