2023 Frontonio Microcosmico Blanco
Grape
Macabeo (aka Viura)
Its Origins
"Bodegas Frontonio is the personal project of young gun Fernando Mora MW, hailing from the Valdejalón appellation (technically an IGP, not a DO) of Aragón. These scintillating wines are some of the very best being made today east of Rioja and west of Conca, and they’re already garnering effusive praise from both Luis Gutiérrez and Jancis Robinson. Best of all, prices are very fair for the high quality—and the quality begins in the vineyard: Mora and his team own fifty hectares of beautiful old bushvines in rocky clay-limestone selected for high altitude and north-facing exposition to emphasize freshness. And although this is Garnacha country (Aragón, in fact, is thought to be the birthplace of Garnacha), the whites are every bit as fascinating and delicious as the red." Skurnik Wines
What The Critics Say
93/100 RobertParker.com, Luis Gutierrez (2022 Vintage)
"The 2022 Microcósmico Macabeo wants to show the potential of the white grape (also known as Viura, the main white variety in Rioja) through the fruit from 70-year-old dry-farmed vines on deep limestone, clay and stony alluvial soils at 530 meters above sea level. They did a 20-hour skin contact, the juice fermented with indigenous yeasts in concrete, and the wine matured in underground concrete tanks with the fine lees and bâtonnage. It's varietal, serious and austere, with notes of waxy apples and hay, not too showy or perfumed, with restraint, white fruit, 13% alcohol, very good freshness (pH 3.19), clean and integrated acidity and a salty twist in the finish. 22,460 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2023."
17/20 Jancis Robinson MW (2021 Vintage)
"Certified organic. Dry-farmed bush vines in mountain vineyards. Fernando Mora MW's latest release of this wine. The label declares Single Estate and The Garage Wine, as well as Mora's partner Mario López. Very excitingly nervy but with no shortage of fruit. Notes of lime and minerals. My experience of this grape variety (called Viura in Rioja) suggests this will have a really quite long life. Persistent. This slightly reminds me of Le Soula Blanc from Roussillon. Really rather thrilling. I may be underscoring it."
95/100 Decanter (2018 vintage)
"Frontonio’s Microcósmico Macabeo is a limited production of ‘micro’ wine made by Fernando Mora MW, Francisco Latasa and Mario López in Valdejalón. Fermented for 15 days in underground cement tanks at 17°C-18°C, then aged on the lees for another five to six months. SJE: Light gold colour. Aromatic with smoky notes. Sunburst of flavour on the palate, alight with crunchy citrus, marmalade oranges, toasty notes and sweet spices. The flavour goes rolling on and on. Impressive. Macabeo is rarely this full of character. MF: Juicy fruit, sapid. Firm finish with mineral persistence. Some oxidative notes of burnt caramel and bruised apple lend complexity. BW: Nice creamy texture. Grapey and limey, very fresh but with attractive spice and fleshy green apple and pear. Really good intensity of fruit and long on the finish."
| Variety | Viura |
|---|---|
| Region | Aragon |
| Closure | Cork |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Maturity | 2024 - 2027 |
Taste
We deliver throughout New Zealand and to some locations overseas. Our deliveries are made by trusted third party carriers. For further details on prices and delivery options please go to DELIVERY INFORMATION section of our site.
If for any reason you are not entirely happy with your order or you suspect that they may be affected by a quality issue, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will remedy the problem straight away. Contact us on 0800 422 767.
