Marqués De Riscal Rueda Verdejo 2009
Grape Variety: 85% Verdejo , 15% Viura
Winery
The Marqués de Riscal has 195 hectares of vineyard in which, amongst other varieties, the native Verdejo grape is grown. This is a versatile grape with a lot of character that works well in the production of both fresh or oak aged white wines.
Growing Conditions
The main feature of the 2009 harvest has been low rainfall, with
only 302 litres/m2. The winter precipitations which were
accumulated in the period between October and March (193
litres/m2) gave the vines sufficient reserves of moisture, allowing
for vigorous, even budbreak. This proceeded normally, thanks to
the mild temperatures in April and the total absence of spring frosts.
It was a hot, dry spring, so the vine plant was able to evolve
correctly with flowering and setting passing without incident. The
months of July and August were very hot, dry and sunny. The high
temperatures brought forward ripening, so that the grapes were
picked earlier than usual. The hot weather from the end of August
till mid September caused the fruit to ripen quickly, leading to
fresh, aromatic musts being obtained. Harvesting proceeded
uneventfully and the grapes were harvested in excellent healthy
condition. The verdejo variety, thanks to its thick, resistant skin,
withstood well the conditions of hydric stress that followed the
drought. The white wines have excellent aromatic intensity, with
the right acidity and moderate alcoholic strength, which means
that the evolution in the bottle will be perfect. On the palate they
have volume and length, thanks to the reduced yields of the
harvest as a consequence of the drought.
Wine Making
The Verdejo grapes along with Viura grapes (also grown locally), are de-stemmed then chilled prior to cold maceration. This process enables maximum aromas and strength of flavour to be extracted from the skins of the grapes without extraction of pigments and astringency. The must is fermented slowly over a 20-30 day period, at a of temperature 12ºC to 13ºC. In this way the aromas of both varieties are preserved. The wine is then aged prior to bottling during the months of January, February and March following the harvest.
Tasting Notes
The wine has a pale straw-yellow colouration. The nose reveals pleasant aromas typical of the Verdejo variety, such as blossom, herbs and fennel. The pallet is typical of this variety of wine, i.e. fresh with a slight bitterness on the finish, which adds to it’s complexity.
Serving suggestions: Fish, shellfish, ham, pasta, chicken and cold meats.
Serving Temperature: Ideal temperature between 8ºC and 10ºC.
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