Cuatro Rayas, “Viñedos Centenarios,” Verdejo from Rueda D.O. Spain 2019 $12 90pts+

Overview: $12 Full Frontal Assault! Spanish White Wine Goes After Sonoma Coast and Chassagne-Montrachet’s Coveted Chardonnay Crowns but…. it’s not Chardonnay it’s Old Vine Verdejo!

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Robert FitzMaurice O’Maoilriain CS, CM
Deep in the Heart of the Garden District in New Orleans Louisiana

Style: A shocking, take no prisoners, all-or-nothing style, old vine Verdejo from the Rueda Region in Spain with a partial use of Oak Barrel Fermentation and Batonnage barrel stirring for creaminess. Like a cool climate crisp Chardonnay with just a little extra oak, smoke, butter and cream. It is a Chardonnay-Drinker’s Rueda the way a Fumé Blanc is a Chardonnay-Drinker’s Sauvignon Blanc. Polarizing, love-it-or-hate-it, it succeeds precisely at what it is trying to do and if you like this style it will bring the house down at $12.

Wine Review: Cuatro Rayas, “Viñedos Centenarios,” Verdejo from Rueda D.O. Spain 2019 $12 90pts+ :: QTPR(Quality to Price Ratio)

Replaces: $30 to $50 Sonoma Coast Chardonnays | $30 to $50 Chassagne-Montrachet White Burgundys | $25 to $35 South African Chardonnays and Chenin Blancs | $25 to $45 Savennières AOC Region French Chenin Blanc

Who WIll Love It: 75% of California Chardonnay Drinkers | 99% of White Burgundy Drinkers considering price | 50% of Sauvignon Blanc Drinkers

When to drink: grilled seafood overlooking the beach | when sunbathing | pair with main course poultry dishes | pair with smoky, Chargrilled New Orleans Oysters

The Grape’s Story: Rueda, Spain has an ancient history of growing Verdejo for well over 1,000 years as it’s primary grape. Verdejo originated in North Africa and was brought to Spain by Arabic speaking Christians.

The Region’s Story: The Rueda growing region is in the autonomous region of Castilla y Leon. Castile is named for all of the Middle-Age Castles and Leon was it’s neighboring, often intertwined kingdom. The two kingdoms fought together against endless Viking from the north and Moor attacks from the south for hundreds of years resulting in the need to build so many Castile or Castles. It is on a high, flat, mountain plateau.

The Producer’s Story: Produced by the 80 year old Agricola Castellana Cooperative of over 400 member grape farmers. The vines are 80 to 100 years old and the roots go deep into the mother rock and the natural water table. Old Vines are less vigorous producing less grapes per vine shoot and only take in the perfect amount of water as needed. This leads to greater concentrations of flavor. Many believe that older vines draw in more diverse mineral traces from layers of soil that can be tasted in the grapes though this is not scientifically provable.

Grape(s): 100% Verdejo

Flavors Notes: lemon zest | clean stony minerality | flint | green & brown pear | roasted almonds | steamed skim milk | smoke | white pepper | buttered dinner roll | white chocolate | smoke | applesauce | margarita | kiwi | white peach | coconut | banana pudding | ghee clarified butter | goose berry | curly leaf parsley | sesame seed oil | fenugreek | daisy

Body 2-3 / 5
Acid: 4 / 5
Fruit: 2 / 5
Floral: 2 / 5
Mineral/Stone: 4 / 5
Herb / Veg: 3 / 5
Butter 3 / 5
Cream 3 / 5
Oak/Toast/Nut: 4 / 5
Bread/Yeast: 3 / 5
Sugar: 0 / 5

Cheese Pairings: Cheddar | Spanish Goat Cheese | Fontina
Food Pairings: halibut | lobster | scallops | chicken | grilled squash