Summer weather finally made it to Sonoma County! I was wondering when and if we were going to get back to the standard issue weather for us. Well, we got it and that means that it’s time to fire up the grill and pair up with some great wine.
I did up a rotisserie chicken and was interested in trying something new (I’m way off from closing in on the century club). I knew I would like a Sauvignon Blanc with my herb roasted chicken and there was a helpful shelf-talker at the store that said this wine had some similar characteristics so I decided to give it a go. I was not disappointed!
2007 Naia Verdejo
The Nose: On the nose, Light Citrus with some hints of tropical fruit, Key Lime Pie and something like hard candy, perhaps apple jolly rancher?
The Taste: Tart apples attack my palate, there’s a touch of lime zest, the wine is very dry but there is definitely something reminiscent of funnel cake or powdered sugar.
The Mouth Feel: Tart acidity and slight effervescence, very refreshing and clean through mid-palate through the finish.
The Color: Pale Yellow with a tinge of green, solid color, through and through.
The Nitty Gritty:
ABV: 13%
From Rueda, Spain
Retail Price $13-$16
Varietal: 100% Verdejo
Wine Enthusiast: 88 Pts.
The Verdict: This wine was exactly what I wanted, perfectly paired with my rotisserie chicken and great on its own. I happily give this 92 Pts, A-!
Norcal Wingman 
Good to find a “helpful” shelf talker every once in a while, eh. Sounds like a good affordable find.
Josh
Especially helpful since I was completely unfamiliar with the varietal. Maybe some day I’ll just know, but for now, I’ll have to defer to the Point of Sale marketing materials 😉
Thanks for the comment Josh
Brian
Sounds fabulous, Spain produces some fantastic whites. Cheers to summer sipping!
Yeah, this was a lucky pick for me. Up to this point the only Spanish varietal I’d had was Tempranillo. It was also nice to add another check mark to my “Wine Century Club” list.
Thanks Tamara!
–Brian
I wouldn’t call it luck. Spain’s hard to miss on, especially at that $13-16 price point.