thesprezzaturist

~ "studied carelessness"

thesprezzaturist

Tag Archives: Angel Rodriguez Vidal

Stakes & Stones

16 Thursday May 2019

Posted by juleslewis in Wine

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Angel Rodriguez Vidal, Martinsancho, Rueda, Spain, Spanish wine, Verdejo

Hot weather finds me craving a cold, pale, white that smells gently of pears, grapefruit and white flowers, not aggressively aromatic, but cut through with the kind of razor sharp, refreshing citrus acidity and salty minerality that makes you salivate. 

Chablis? I hear you say. Sort of ‘esque’ but considerably cheaper at around £13 retail.

Rueda is the only white wine DO in Castilla y Leon, and its fennelly freshness comes from a distinctly chilly climate and the austere gravelly soils of the high plateau, where most of the vines for the indigenous Verdejo grape – not to be confused with the Verdelho of Portugal – originate.

Angel Rodriguez Vidal only makes one wine, and this is it! Martinsancho has been in his family since 1784 and his almost single handed resurrection of Verdejo was recognized by King Juan Carlos of Spain. Unlike most of Rueda, his vines are bush trained, rather than wire trained, which keep yields very low, with just a few bunches per vine, giving intense flavour as well as precluding mechanical harvesting. Unusually for Spain, the cellars are deep underground, goose-pimply cold and the wine spends a considerable time on its lees.

The label’s a bit dull I grant you – a funky one would help silence any non believers – but its what’s inside that counts and with only around 2000 bottles per vintage you don’t want everyone getting their grubby little mitts on it!

Stone and orchard fruits, a touch of fennel, herbs and rhubarb, a Chablis-esque pebble sucking dryness and punchy acidity of vivacious purity.

As my wife said, in one of her less eloquent moments, “This beats the c**p out of Oyster Bay”!

Advertisement

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • More
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr

Like this:

Like Loading...

Recent Posts

  • Stakes & Stones
  • My Mate Marmite
  • The Joint is Jumpin!
  • Whimsicality killed the Cat
  • ‘Do The Macchiona’

Recent Comments

the #1 Itinerary on Stakes & Stones
juleslewis on The Joint is Jumpin!
the #1 Itinerary on The Joint is Jumpin!
Charlotte Whitta on The Joint is Jumpin!
the #1 Itinerary on Eau Naturel

Archives

  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • August 2018
  • December 2016
  • July 2016
  • May 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • August 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • December 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013

Categories

  • Art
  • Books
  • Food
  • Musings
  • Skate
  • Surf
  • Travel
  • Wine

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • thesprezzaturist
    • Join 91 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • thesprezzaturist
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: