2006 Cautivo Rioja Blanco

[wondersofwine]

I've posted on this wine before but it continues to impress and give me pleasure beyond its price. Originally offered at $12.99 and purchased on sale for $7.99, this has got to be one of my "best buys" of 2008.

From Heredad de Baroja in Elvillar de Alava, Spain.
It made an excellent pairing the other night with a baked chicken/artichoke/celery/onion ring dish even though artichokes can be a difficult match. Pale gold color. Tropical fruits with white peach and lemon curd on the nose. Maybe its a changeling but in my first note I mentioned baked apple and another taster got pineapple and melon. Pineapple may be closer than baked apple. This time I got almost a lemon meringue and vanilla note on the palate. Tastes rich and fruity and lingers for a nice finish. Not flabby--as Brappy posted when I brought a bottle to Baltimore, it has some serious acidity on the finish.