Campillo El Sueno White Blend Rioja 2021 750ml
DescriptionCampillo's El Sueño, meaning 'The Dream,' represents an ambitious departure from traditional white Rioja, showcasing a blend that combines indigenous and international varieties to create something entirely new. This 2021 bottling demonstrates how innovation and tradition can coexist, producing a white wine of remarkable complexity and character from a region famous for its reds.
The wine displays a bright golden-yellow color that immediately suggests richness. On the nose, El Sueño offers a complex bouquet that reflects its diverse blend. Tropical fruits—pineapple, mango, and passion fruit—mingle with citrus notes and white flowers. The oak influence is evident but refined, adding notes of vanilla, toasted almonds, and a subtle creaminess. As the wine opens, more complex aromas emerge: white peach, honeysuckle, fresh herbs, and a distinctive mineral quality that grounds the exuberant fruit.
The palate reveals masterful blending, with each variety contributing to a harmonious whole. The texture is rich and creamy from oak aging and lees contact, yet maintained by bright acidity that keeps the wine fresh and lively. Flavors of tropical and stone fruits dominate initially, giving way to citrus, nuts, and subtle spice notes. The oak is perfectly integrated, adding complexity and texture without heaviness. Mid-palate, notes of white tea, ginger, and herbs add intrigue, while that persistent mineral thread provides backbone.
What makes El Sueño special is its successful fusion of styles—it offers the complexity expected from white Rioja with a modern approach that broadens its appeal. The blend creates layers of flavor that evolve in the glass, rewarding patient tasting. The finish is long and satisfying, with fruit and oak elements in perfect harmony. This is a white wine that challenges preconceptions about Rioja, equally suited to rich seafood dishes, roasted poultry, or creamy pastas. Campillo has indeed created a dream—a white Rioja that honors tradition while looking firmly toward the future.
