Cantarina, Cabeza del Perro Blanco 2023

Get to know: La Cabeza de Perro Blanco 2023

A fleshy, stone-fruited Bierzo white wine from century-old vineyards in northern Spain.

Tasting Note

Ripe peach and bruised apple lead the way, that fleshy stone-fruit character carrying straight through onto a broad, textured palate, with a savoury edge of dried herbs settling in underneath. Spontaneous fermentation gives this wine a rustic, wild edge that will appeal to fans of natural wine. Pale straw in the glass, with real freshness running through it despite the weight, and the moderate alcohol makes it easy to keep pouring.

Top food pairings:

• Grilled hake with a squeeze of lemon
• Padrón peppers and jamón croquetas
• Chargrilled artichokes with olive oil and sea salt

Kate Says

"This is proper old-school Bierzo. Three generations working the same old vines. Everything in the glass sings real, authentic wine made by people who care. It's got more going on than most whites at this price. I'd pour this for someone who looks for the unconventional things in life."

Producer Info

Cantariña is a small family producer near Villafranca de Bierzo, on the Camino de Santiago, three generations in, on vineyards that were once sold off to bigger wineries rather than vinified at home. That's changed: the family now makes wine from their own 13 hectares, working parcel by parcel with low-intervention winemaking and spontaneous, indigenous-yeast fermentation.

How it's made:

• Varieties: A field blend led by Palomino, co-fermented with Godello, Malvasia and Soña Blanca
• Hand-harvested in late September from century-old, goblet-trained vines
• Pressed after 24 hours in cold storage, to keep things fresh
• Spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeast, split between stainless steel and used French oak barrels
• Seven months ageing on lees before a light filtration and bottling

Good to know:

• Region: DO Bierzo, Spain
• Style: White, still, textured and aromatic
• Closure: Cork
• Vegan: Vegan
• ABV: 12.5%
• Vintage: 2023

Why we love it:

This Bierzo white wine is proof that old vines and old habits are worth keeping: a real field blend, fermented the way it would have been a century ago, with texture to back up the fruit. Good with food, good on its own, and a different way into Spanish white wine if you think you've tried it all.