# Taberner Blanc de Noir (2024)

- **Producer:** Bodegas Huerta de Albalá
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Merlot
- **Region:** Andalucía, Spain
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 12.0%
- **Average price:** €27
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 8–10 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** peach, apricot, mango, passion fruit, lemon, grapefruit

## About this wine

Taberner Blanc de Noir is a highly innovative white wine crafted by Bodegas Huerta de Albalá in Arcos de la Frontera, within the Vino de la Tierra de Cádiz appellation of Andalusia, Spain. Founded by Vicente Taberner, the estate is designed in the style of a classic French château and is renowned for pushing the boundaries of southern Spanish viticulture. While the region is traditionally known for robust red wines and native varieties, this wine represents a bold creative leap, transforming Merlot—a classic red grape—into a crisp, elegant white wine. The estate's unique microclimate, nestled between the Bornos reservoir and the Sierra de Grazalema, features clay-loam soils with limestone influences and unusually high rainfall for Andalusia, providing the perfect conditions for this distinctive expression.

## Interesting facts

- It is made from 100% Merlot, a red grape variety, but vinified entirely as a white wine through rapid skin separation.
- The vineyards experience nearly 900 mm of annual rainfall, which is exceptionally high and unusual for southern Spain.
- The wine has achieved critical acclaim, including a 90-point rating from Guía Peñín and a prestigious Gold Medal.

## Food pairing

This Blanc de Noir's vibrant acidity and medium-light body make it an exceptional partner for fresh, delicate, and slightly briny dishes. The crisp acidity cuts through the richness of shellfish and white fish, while its clean, unoaked profile complements the subtle flavors of sushi and light Asian cuisine without overwhelming them.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process for this Blanc de Noir is defined by precision and temperature control. To preserve high natural acidity and delicate primary fruit aromas, the Merlot grapes are harvested manually during an early harvest ('vendimia temprana'). Upon arrival at the winery, a rapid bleeding ('rápido sangrado') technique is employed to separate the juice from the skins immediately, preventing the extraction of color and tannins. The resulting clear white must undergoes fermentation in stainless steel tanks at a strictly controlled low temperature of 11ºC for 25 days. The wine is kept entirely unoaked and aged in stainless steel to maintain its vibrant freshness and pure varietal character.