Portia Verdejo 2018
-
Suckling
James -
Wong
Wilfred -
Panel
Tasting
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
It pairs very well with appetizers, fish-based dishes, fideua, rice, pasta, smoked, soft and creamy cheeses, white meats.
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
This is very pretty with grapefruit, pomelo and apricots. Full-bodied with delicious, fleshy fruit, bright acidity and a zesty yet textured finish.
-
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Portia Verdejo is juicy, yet crisp on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine shows attractive aromas and flavors of peach fuzz, dried herbs, and chalk. Enjoy it with a generous serving of raw oysters, lemon, and a few twists of black peppercorns. (Tasted: July 28, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
-
Tasting Panel
Salted white flowers join lemon on the nose before sparkling acidity buzzes across the palate with cashew and chamomile. White grapefruit zest appears on the finish.
Construction of the spectacular $25.6-million Portia winemaking facility is currently in progress. Commissioned by the Martinez family, the project represents the first ever winery designed by internationally famed architect Norman Foster, head of the London-based design team, Foster + Partners.
The property embraces 400 acres of terrain enjoying an eastern and southern orientation in Ribera del Duero. Vineyards are planted chiefly with Tempranillo (known locally as Tinta Fina) at an average density of 1,200 vines per acre.
Captivating and full of character, Verdejo grows with great success in Rueda, Spain and virtually nowhere else in Europe. It has become so trendy in Spain since the turn of the century that plantings have also increased tremendously. Somm Secret—Contrary to what some may think, it is actually not related to the Portugese variety with a very similar name, Verdelho. In fact, DNA profiling suggests it may be a sibling of Godello, another native of NW Spain.
Rueda is located along the banks of the Duero River in Spain’s Castilla y León region, just a 2-hour drive north of Madrid. While winemaking in this area goes back to the 12th century, it was in the 1980s that the region was granted Denominación de Origen (D.O.) status. Today, more than 70 wineries call Rueda home. This national favorite is the top-selling white wine in Spain.
Notable facts Rueda’s main grape variety, Verdejo, gets it distinct complexity from stressful growing conditions and mineral-rich soil. Think of Verdejo as a fuller-bodied and more aromatic Sauvignon Blanc. A lush and smooth character with perfectly balanced acidity means Rueda wines pair well with seafood, fresh salads and spicy food, but are also great on their own.