We are talking here about the ultimate white wine in Spain. Don’t get me wrong, there are many other grapes and regions making excellent white wine (godello grapes from Valdeorras and Monterry to give you an example) but Verdejo is the best internationally known and also a great value for money, which excellent bottles on the 5-10 Eur price range
I was actually in Rueda 3 weeks ago buying some wine there. So here are some of my recommendations and a couple of very nice discoveries
Naia – This is an excellent white wine and very good winery (many thanks to Cristina to help us on a busy day. She was really helpful and fun and love sharing with her our ideas on New Zealnd wine, where she was on the harvesting in Spring this year. But please organize the winery so people can come and taste the wines!! We need to develop this in Spain). They actually doing a good job on exporting their wine to the US (I have seen their bottles in several shop sin San Francisco).
Their “classic” Verdejo now in the shops in 2007 (Naia 2007). Keep in mind that “classic” verdejo is only in the barrels for 3 months, so usually you can’t have them for more than 3-4 years after they have been bottle, and on the 2 year mark they are at their peak. This applies to all the bottle of Verdejo (Classic, see about the new version below)
Furthermore, take a look at a very good and simple review that I subscribe very much
“Excelent quality for a small price. Both nose and taste is all fruit, citrus, melon also floral notes. This is an refreshing wine that drinks so easily that my glass keeps getting empty without a blink. Great to drink on it's own, goes very well with fish, even had pizza fruity di mare with it, sushi etc. The better the weather the better this wine comes to its right. Right out of the fridge is a bit to cold but on a summer day that will take only a few minutes to be resolved, although it doesn't always gets that time :0)”
One note he does not mention is the colour. Typical verdejo, pallid gold, with touches of wheat and a light very light greens.
I keep buying this wine over and over and you should do too
In the same winery and as it seems to be now a tradition in the region they are preparing a luxury or high end wine, which basically means that the bottles stay on the barrel for usually triple the time of the “classic” verdejo, giving the wine an stronger body, much goldish color and an oak-flavour on the palete
This is the case in Bodegas Naia, which has been doing the Naiades for a number of years. The one I tried was the 2006. This wine is selling for 15-20 Eur (although I have heard that they are selling it for 35 USd in the US!!!). It is expensive but not that much if you compare that most albarinos sell for this price and I think these are much better wines in most cases.
Let me share with you a review that I like on Naiades 2006
“Very interesting. My 1st verdejo with obvious oak treatment. I really enjoyed this. Improved with air. Was nice really chilled and even approaching room temp. Paired fairly well with arugula salad, parmesan-truffle oil dressing. Excelled with quinoa, greens and a yogurt tofu all with indian styles spices. The nose was so creamy, while the palate was more metallic or river stone like. Toasty oak, green bananas (stole that from slave2thevine) and yellow apples….”
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