Menade Verdejo Rueda 2019

Alana L rated this wine as 93/100 with the following review:

Returning after a break (what odd times these are), not for lack of tasting wines but happy to be back to reviewing them with this little treasure: Menade Verdejo Rueda 2019. Bought, in all honesty, for the label during a ‘long lineup, had to be quick, forgot my glasses so couldn’t read anything’ SAQ outing to stock up the cellar. And what a pleasant surprise! Organic, gluten and histamine free, vegan – but more importantly highly drinkable and delicious (non-sophisticated but apt wine term here).

From the Duero river banks, the Rueda appellation is known as a hub for refreshing, interesting whites and this one delivers. Bodegas Menade itself is at the forefront of ecological winemaking: green covers, biodynamic infusions, mobile trees to attract insects and birds, pollination gardens and the list goes on. Harvested with three distinct types of harvest (green manual daytime, mechanized and night time harvesting), alcoholic fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks with the natural yeast, the wine staying on its lees for a controlled time.

An expression of freshness and the wilder side of the Verdejo variety, the vines grow in pebbly, clay, and calcareous soils, fermented purely with the grapes’ own natural wild yeasts, it is fresh and lively with pronounced herbal elements and minerality: 100% Verdejo, straw yellow in colour with concentrated white stone fruits, melon & ripe citrus and herbs (fennel and thyme) - unctuous and well balanced. Tasted on it’s own (paired with a sunny terrace) but would be stellar with spicy food, curries of all kind and decadent sushi with spicy mayo!

Cheers!