The wines coming out of the Petit Sios label are just flat-out delicious. This is a subsidiary of the Costers del Sio winery, run by a small group of dedicated vintners since 1992 in the beautiful region of Lleida. Now, this is only a stone’s throw from the French border, and Petit Sios was launched as a way of exploring how French and Spanish grapes, techniques, and approaches to winemaking could come together, in order to produce wines which really went the extra mile and stood out from the crowd. Could you imagine a French winery doing something similar? It seems pretty unlikely to us, knowing just how protective and precious that country can be when it comes to their viticulture.
Anyway, borders and national stereotypes aside, Petit Sios is a fantastic display of innovative and approachable Spanish winemaking at its best. Juan de Porcioles, the visionary vintner behind the labels of Costers del Sio, is a man who believes in taking the long way round. His vineyards were planted by hand, and since his first vintage in 2005, he’s worked with his wife and children to produce wines which not only offer wine drinkers something a little different, but which also have a whole lot to say about his land in the verdant landscapes of Lleida. Minimal chemical intervention, sensitive winemaking and a focus on quality all add up to delicious bottles.
Spain isn’t exactly known for Viognier… in fact you might say it’s known for ‘not Viognier’ – it’s reds are the main game, spicy and savoury from Navarra, or supple and elegant from Ribeiro. The whites can be taut & fresh from Rias Baixas or nutty and full from Rioja. So this wine is a real oddity, but in the best of ways. It is pale yellow with green tinges in the glass, and the nose if highly floral and aromatic – plenty of white grape, exotic fruit and blossom. There are notes of white peach, mandarin and yellow apple, balanced by very fresh acidity. Distinct and delicious.
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