"The 2011 Rioja Blanco Fermentado en Barrica is a blend of 85% Viura and 15% Malvasia. Fermented and aged in oak for eight months, it is subtly fragrant with orchard fruit, flowers, ginger and oak. It is soft on the attack and well balanced with fresh and savory fruit flavors on the palate, good acidity, and a very nice finish. Bodegas Amarén is owned by Bodegas Luis Cañas."
- I-WineReview (Report 43: Rioja - A New Look), 90 pts
"(85% viura and 15% malvasia): Light yellow. Waxy pear and orange pith aromas show very good power, with a bright mineral overlay adding energy. Incisive and uncompromisingly dry on the palate, showing broad but nicely focused flavors of citrus fruits, pear skin and honeysuckle. Finishes silky and quite long, leaving candied ginger and honey flavors in its wake."
- Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (September/October 2014), 91 pts
"The 2011 Barrel Fermented White is fermented and aged for eight months in oak barrels and has a clean and precise nose with notes of pear, chamomile, pollen and fennel. The medium to full-bodied palate shows ripe flavors but plenty of acidity, in a wine that is both big and delicate. It should age well. Drink 2014-2017. - Luis Gutierrez"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #210, December 2013), 91 pts
"Light, bright yellow. An expressive, highly perfumed bouquet evokes fresh pear, tangerine, ginger and honeysuckle, with a minerally element adding vibrancy and lift. Sappy and broad on entry, then tighter in the middle, offering juicy, deeply concentrated citrus and orchard fruit flavors plus a hint of smokiness. Shows intense mineral and floral character on the clinging finish, which shows excellent tenacity. - Josh Raynolds"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (November 2015), 91 pts
"Pale gold. Ripe pear and nectarine aromas show excellent clarity, picking up a lemon zest nuance and turning livelier with air. Silky, seamless and energetic on the palate, offering concentrated orchard and citrus fruit flavors given lift and spine by smoky minerality. A suave vanilla note comes up on the fragrant, extremely persistent finish, which leaves behind a juicy Meyer lemon note. - Josh Raynolds"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (May 2017), 91 pts
"This wine has real energy, freshness and plenty of depth. Ripe, smoothly-rendered fruits, white peach and lemon, and a Chablis-esque, stony finish. Works well. Drink now."
- James Suckling (Spain Tasting Report 2017), 92 pts
"A blend of 85% Viura and 15% Malvasia, the 2016 Rioja Barrel Fermented Blanco was, you guessed it, fermented and aged in barrel, all of which were new. It has a rock star nose of lime, white flowers, and honeyed, flinty minerality as well as a medium-bodied, richly textured, balanced style on the palate. The new oak is hardly noticeable, and the wine stays clean and balanced. This is one seriously delicious drink."
- Jeb Dunnuck (March 2019), 90 pts
