Shaya Verdejo 2014

A fresh, young white made from ancient, low yielding Verdejo vines. In the arid climate and sandy gravel of the Rueda plateau in northwestern Spain, these vineyards were planted on their own rootstock which is almost unheard today. Trained low en vaso in a goblet shape, these aren’t along wires in regimented vine rows –instead more like bonsai trees without any trellising. It fosters a canopy that keeps moisture close to the vine while shading the clusters from extreme sunshine ensuring the Verdejo clusters retain all they need to ripen well and make for matchless Verdejo. With scents of toasty baking spices, nutmeg, spring flowers, marzipan, and pit fruits, the palate is a bit richer and more complex than ordinary Verdejo, this vibrant effort could evolve for 1-2 years but is drinking well now –especially with such seafood as stuffed mussels, oysters, shrimps, and scallops, or a classic Minnesota fish fry.

Expert Review

90 Vinous
Light yellow. Ripe nectarine and melon on the fragrant nose, with honeysuckle and mineral notes adding vivacity. Juicy and seamless on the palate, offering round orchard and pit fruit flavors and bracing notes of bitter quinine and white pepper. Blends richness and energy smoothly and finishes with very good clarity and floral persistence. Drinking window: 2015 - 2018
Josh Raynolds. Tasting date: September 2015

Food Pairings

Seafood as stuffed mussels, oysters, shrimps, and scallops, fish, vegetables, rices and pasta.