Winemaker Notes
Basa is one of the pioneering wines to show the expression of Verdejo, a grape variety that adapted to a continental climate and gives rise to a direct, fresh and expressive wine.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The very young white 2023 Basa was produced with a blend of Verdejo with 10% Viura from a warm and precocious year. The must fermented and matured in stainless steel. The warm year delivered aromas of ripe yellow fruit and herbs, pollen, spices and a smoky twist and a medium-bodied palate with good ripeness and freshness (pH 3.35) and slightly higher alcohol (13.5%), rounder, like 2022. They got some rain at the end of the cycle that kind of saved the year. This was bottled without malolactic and is tasty and balanced.
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.