Marqués de Cáceres Rueda Verdejo 2020 | 750 ml.

WS92 Wine & Spirits 08/21

"Cristina Forner at Cáceres has been branching out from Rioja, and this may be one of her most successful new wines. In 2014, she invested in 300 acres of vines on terraces above the Duero River; the vines, mostly verdejo and mostly on gravelly sand, surround the winery built at the vineyard. Eso es Rueda, I wrote, when I tasted this wine. Its dynamic contrast of rich and fresh, its brisk flavors of apples and turmeric, its leesy depths and lasting refreshment all set the bar for affordable pleasure in verdejo. Chill it for shellfish, particularly grilled oysters with spicy garlic butter." (92 pts.)

VN90 Vinous Feb 2021

"Pale yellow. A pungent bouquet displays mineral-accented citrus and orchard fruits, along with strong floral and fresh bay accents. Juicy and chewy in texture, offering energetic Anjou pear, orange pith and tarragon flavors underscored by a vein of smoky minerality. Powerful yet lithe, finishing with sharp clarity and good, mineral-driven persistence." (90 pts.)