One of the oldest estates in the region, Remelluri, based on the northern borders of Rioja Alavesa, was founded by monks in the 14th century but has records of winemaking happening on the site even before this. It took it's modern form after it was purchased by Jaime Rodriguez in 1967 and now under the stewardship of his children, Telmo and Amaia, the estate has become one of the greatest exponents of white Rioja.

Their newly released Granja de Nuestra Senora Remelluri Rioja Blanco 2017 is the joint-highest scoring wine from James Suckling's recent Spanish Wine Report. Scoring a huge 98 points, this 'super white' is 'Rioja's answer to grand cru Burgundy' (JS) but without the price-tag at less than £45 per bottle IB. With an incredibly complex nose, it shows notes of butter, walnuts, quince, ginger, cedar and ripe pears with 'seamless texture' (JS) on the palate.

Under Telmo's direction, the estate has maintained the traditions of the region in their wines but also added a slightly modern twist by taking a more low interventionist approach. Remelluri has always eschewed chemical treatments in their vineyards but in 2010 they were finally certified organic. Wines are fermented with native yeasts, each plot is vinified separately and new oak is used very scarcely to ensure each bottle reflects the true expression of the stunning terroir.

Released today at £265 per case IB, the Remelluri Rioja Blanco has become one of the most consistently high scoring white Riojas money can buy.