Alcohol: 14,2%
Grape(s): Verdejo
Localization: Rueda, Spain
Tasting notes: Light bright yellow. Aromas of Meyer lemon and green apple are accented by suggestions of chalky minerals and sea salt. Dry and racy on the palate, offering lively citrus fruit and fresh fig flavors and a subtle touch of tarragon. Closes on a juicy note, featuring resonating stoniness and very good focus and length.
Food pairing: The grassy, fresh, citrus aroma and flavor profile is quite similar to Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire, except that with Oro de Castilla there's also a firm minerality that recalls the best examples of Sancerre. A great pair would be sockeye salmon, Mahi Mahi, or flounder simply pan-fried in a beurre blanc, or plank roasted. Salads with grilled chicken, asparagus, or toasted almonds would also pair well, as well as soft, ripe cheeses.
94 Points Decanter: Lovely Verdejo aromas of nettles, lemon curd, and fresh herbs. Bright, full-bodied, and fleshy with pineapple, a squeeze of lime, banana, and mango. Crisp and refreshing.
The Wine: Oro de Castilla is a wine made by Bodegas Hermanos del Villar in the Rueda DO region. Made in a classic style that showcases the Verdejo grape's bright, fresh, and mineral flavors, this wine has been called “a textbook Verdejo” by renowned wine critic Josh Raynolds of Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar. Oro de Castilla means “the Gold of Castile” in English. Mr. Raynolds isn't the only one; many people consider Oro de Castilla a reference point Verdejo. In its certification class for SWE (Spanish Wine Educator), The Spanish Wine Academy presents Oro de Castilla as a “best example” Verdejo for its section on the Rueda region. This wine's exceptional quality is rooted in two characteristics that make this vineyard unique in the region and impart a distinctive brightness and minerality. It is located at a high elevation, overlooking the town of Rueda, planted in a bed of river stones covering a limestone subsoil. The vines are among the oldest in the region, with deep root systems that penetrate the limestone and mineral subsoils. Oro de Castilla is best enjoyed when it is young, for it is a wine that is all about the youth and bright, lively flavors of the Verdejo grape.
