The 2009 Muradella Blanco is 100% Dona Blanca that was vinified with 50% whole clusters and 50% whole berries with no stems. Fermentation was finished in seasoned 500-liter French oak where the wine remained for 8 months before decanting it into stainless steel for an additional 4 months. It was then bottled without filtration. Unfortunately, despite these elaborate efforts, the resulting wine is reticent aromatically and has relatively little flavor interest. Another weaker effort that I was unable to recommend, the 2008 Gorvia Blanco, was also made from 100% Dona Blanco so my tentative conclusion, given the skill of the vignerons associated with the project, is that the grape simply lacks much in the way of varietal character.
Quinta da Muradella, located in the town of Verin in the Monterrei DO, is a garage winery where proprietor Jose Luis Mateo and Raul Perez make wine from 34 unique, certified organic, parcels. A principal purpose of the project is to relate the history of the region through the wines. That fascinating story goes beyond the bounds of this report but the importer can provide more detailed information to those interested.
Importer: Ole Imports, New Rochelle, NY; www.oleimports.com