Excellens Blanco
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2026
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled white fish, traditional seafood paella, and fresh goat cheese.
✨ Technical Specifications
Marqués de Cáceres was founded in 1970 by Enrique Forner, who revolutionized the Rioja region by introducing modern Bordeaux winemaking techniques under the guidance of the legendary French enologist Émile Peynaud. The 'Excellens' range represents a refined selection of vineyards designed to showcase elegance and purity. The Excellens Blanco is crafted predominantly from Viura (Macabeo) grapes sourced from prime, clay-limestone parcels in Rioja Alta. To preserve its vibrant fruit profile and delicate floral aromas, the wine undergoes temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel tanks, followed by a brief period of contact with its fine lees. This technique imparts a subtle creaminess and complexity while maintaining the crisp, refreshing acidity and mineral undertones characteristic of the region's cool-climate whites.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1970 by Enrique Forner in Cenicero, Marqués de Cáceres spearheaded the modern renaissance of Rioja. Drawing on his experience revitalizing Bordeaux estates like Château Camensac, Forner enlisted legendary oenologist Émile Peynaud to introduce temperature-controlled stainless steel fermentation and French oak barriques, shifting focus toward vibrant fruit character rather than oxidation. Today directed by Enrique's daughter, Cristina Forner, the house collaborates closely with multi-generational growers across Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa, cultivating primarily Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Graciano across calcareous clay and alluvial terraces sheltered by the Sierra de Cantabria. Beyond benchmark oak-matured Rioja expressions—such as Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva, and the flagship cuvée Gaudium—the estate has strategically broadened its footprint. Its repertoire now includes crisp Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc from Rueda, Deusa Nai Albariño from Rías Baixas, and method traditional Cava, all maintaining the firm’s hallmark of meticulous quality, freshness, and structural finesse.
🍇 Grapes
Viura (Macabeo), Malvasía, Garnacha Blanca