Marques de Caceres Verdejo Rueda 2022 (Case Price)

Chef Nicholas note: “I almost never offer up anything under $10/bottle but I had to make an exception here. This drinks like a $20/bottle white, easily, goes perfectly with so many dishes and is the ideal summer sipper. If you drink Sancerre, Pinot Grigio, and/or Albariño – you’ll probably want to check this one out.”

This Verdejo comes from Marques de Caceres, easily one of the best wineries in all of Spain. They’re big players in the area, a la the Torres Family, and put unmatched hours into strategizing and planting for the future.

One area they’ve designated as a spot for big time growth is in Rueda. Similar to Albariño being perfect for the Galician climate, Verdejo and Rueda are a match made in heaven. Cold winters here are followed by short, hot summers with super cool nights, meaning that the roots of the vines must dive deep to find enough water. That gives the grapes a wonderful natural acidity, and the hot summer days allow the grapes to ripen well.

This wine is just so pleasing. It has an attractive nose of white flowers, stone fruit, and citrus and a bright, medium-bodied mouthfeel with vivid white fruits, straw, grapefruit, and a streak of minerality that runs all the way through the long, dry finish.