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.
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
This estate’s verdejo grows on a mix of sand and river stones over limestone and clay. The wine ferments in stainless steel without added yeasts, then ages for three months in tank with daily stirring of the lees. The wine has a bright floral beauty, supple textures and lasting mineral notes in the end. It’s simple and lovely, a refreshing match for any raw shellfish.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2020 Hermanos del Villar Verdejo is lovely, authentic, and smooth. TASTING NOTES: This wine slides on the palate with flavors of dried earth and ripe fruit. Pair it with grilled, skewered pork. (Tasted: January 22, 2022, San Francisco, CA)
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.
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.