Shaya Habis Old Vines Verdejo 2018
Winemaker Notes
Sourced from the oldest Verdejo estate vineyards, some over 95 years old, planted at 2,300 feet in sandy pebbled soils which lend a marked minerality and highly aromatic quality to the wine. Extremely low yields on these vines lead to Verdejo with superior aromatic and flavor concentration. The vines are dry farmed, without the use of pesticides or herbicides, and are hand-harvested. This wine is fermented and aged in large neutral French oak barrels for 7 months. Golden color with bold aromas of ripe pears, peaches and notes of lemon peel. Pronounced minerality from the old vines and toasted notes from the oak aging make this Verdejo truly spectacular.
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesThis bold, creamy white layers ripe flavors of pineapple and mango with coconut, spice and white blossom accents. Very appealing, with a vibrant acidity giving this focus.
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.