Winemaker Notes
Blend: 90% Verdejo, 10% Viura
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2015 Basa is a blend of Verdejo with 10% Viura from limestone and gravel soils fermented in stainless steel and bottled unoaked. This is their 20th vintage in Rueda, and they have completely removed the Sauvignon from the blend in the last three/four years. They like the expression of Viura in Rueda, where the soils are quite appropriate for white wines. This is quite open and very clean, with the freshly cut grass aromas, hints of lemons and a touch of licorice. The palate is fresh and balanced, with the typical slightly bitter notes in the finish.
With hundreds of white grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended white wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used in white wine blends, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a soft and full-bodied white wine blend, like Chardonnay, would do well combined with one that is more fragrant and naturally high in acidity. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
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.