Hermanos del Villar Oro de Castilla Verdejo 2020
Winemaker Notes
Light bright yellow. Aromas of Meyer lemon and green apple are accented by suggestions of chalky minerals and sea salt. Dry and racy on the palate, offering lively citrus fruit and fresh fig flavors and a subtle touch of tarragon. Closes on a juicy note, featuring resonating stoniness and very good focus and length. 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 cheese.
Critical Acclaim
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The Villar Brothers, founded Bodegas Hermanos Villar in 1995, owning 247 Acres of vineyards in the town of Rueda. The widely planted grape varieties are: white – Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc, Viura and red –Tempranillo. Over 30 year old vines. The vineyards where the grapes come from are the main reason for this wine’s sterling quality. The bright flavors and minerality are due to the high-elevation vineyards that overlook the town of Rueda and to the bed of river stones that cover the limestone subsoil. The vines are among the oldest in the region, with deep root systems that penetrate the limestone and mineral subsoils.
Rueda is located along the banks of the Duero River in Spain’s Castilla y León region, just a 2-hour drive north of Madrid. While winemaking in this area goes back to the 12th century, it was in the 1980s that the region was granted Denominación de Origen (D.O.) status. Today, more than 70 wineries call Rueda home. This national favorite is the top-selling white wine in Spain.
Notable facts Rueda’s main grape variety, Verdejo, gets it distinct complexity from stressful growing conditions and mineral-rich soil. Think of Verdejo as a fuller-bodied and more aromatic Sauvignon Blanc. A lush and smooth character with perfectly balanced acidity means Rueda wines pair well with seafood, fresh salads and spicy food, but are also great on their own.
Captivating and full of character, Verdejo grows with great success in Rueda, Spain and virtually nowhere else in Europe. It has become so trendy in Spain since the turn of the century that plantings have also increased tremendously. Somm Secret—Contrary to what some may think, it is actually not related to the Portugese variety with a very similar name, Verdelho. In fact, DNA profiling suggests it may be a sibling of Godello, another native of NW Spain.