Wine of the Week: 2008 Allende White Rioja

Looking for an alternative to Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc? Lately, some interesting whites are coming out of Rioja, and Allende’s Rioja blanca is one of them. A blend of Viura and Malvasia aged in French oak, the 2008 is a rich, almost oily wine, with an extravagant scent, from this relatively new estate. It’s made in a more modern style than the oxidized whites of the past, crisper and more lively.

Drink it with seafood tapas, paella, chicken with rice or any white meat.

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Region: Rioja, Spain

Price: $22 to $28

Style: Rich and fragrant

What it goes with: Seafood tapas, paella, chicken

Where to find it: Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa, (949) 650-8463, https://www.hitimewine.net and Wally’s Wine & Spirits in West Los Angeles, (310) 475-0606, https://www.wallywine.com.