Winemaker Notes
Bright straw with flints of green in color. Floral and herbaceous on the nose with aromas of lime and pear. Fresh, fruity and juicy on the palate with excellent citrus freshness and mouth filling flavors of apple, peaches and plums.
Blend: 90% Verdejo, 10% Viura
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Their entry-level white from Rueda, the 2020 Basa is a blend of approximately 90% Verdejo and 10% Viura and is slightly riper than previous years. It fermented and matured in stainless steel and was bottled unoaked. It's a slightly reductive, fruit-driven white, fresh, balanced, clean and easy to drink.
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.