Item Number: 5685 UPC: 8437001489107

Country: Spain
Region: Castilla y Leon Sub Region: Castilla y Leon
Appellation/AVA: Rueda DO
Estate Grown Wine: Yes
Vintage: 2011
Grape(s): 100% Verdejo
Type: Wine - White
Bottle Size: 750ml Pack: 12
Closure: Cork
Case Production: 6,000 for the U.S.
Alc by Vol(%): 12.5
Viticulture: Practicing Organic
Soil Type: A deep layer of river stones and sand provides good drainage and a healthy, dry environment for the grapes to ripen. The subsoil is composed of limestone and clay, which retains moisture for the vines, especially during the dry, active growing season.

Tasting Notes: The grassy, fresh, citrus aroma and flavor profile is quite similar to Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire, except that with Oro de Castilla there’s also a firm minerality that recalls the best examples of Sancerre. A great pair would be sockeye salmon, Mahi Mahi or flounder simply pan fried in a beurre blanc, or plank roasted. Salads with grilled chicken, asparagus or toasted almonds would also pair well, as well as soft, ripe cheeses.

Vinification: Harvest takes place during the cool night hours to maximize the aromatic expression of the Verdejo grape. The de-stemming process takes place in the vineyard. At the winery, the unfermented juice is kept at a cold temperature to avoid oxidation and a slow fermentation is employed utilizing the natural yeasts in the grapes. After fermentation, there is no malolactic fermentation in order to retain the wine’s fresh acidity. The wine is aged in stainless steel tank for 3 months, with daily stirring of the lees (batonnage) to enhance the texture and mouthfeel of the wine. After aging, the wine is filtered and bottled.

What makes this wine unique? Stirring of the lees (batonnage) is a technique used to enrich the wine during aging in stainless steel tanks. The river stones in the vineyards create a better equilibrium of ripeness during Rueda’s cool nights. Fermented utilizing the grapes own indigenous yeasts. Nighttime harvesting maintains freshness and minimizes oxidation. The vines are over 30 years old and produce low yields, from 5-10 clusters per vine.