It's getting closer and closer to enjoy the 2022 verdejo wine after a harvest that has already been described as "one of the best in history in terms of quality and quantity". Rueda DO lovers (and wine lovers in general) are, therefore, in luck and looking forward to tasting the first wines of this year.
Although initial expectations were not the best, the 2022 harvest that began on 16 August (the earliest in the last seven years) has turned out to be excellent. In fact, last summer's extreme heat and drought caused the vineyards to suffer excessively. On the positive side, on the other hand, the heat allowed for optimal sanitary conditions by protecting against the diseases caused by the humidity. The quality was beyond doubt. And the quantity?
An unusual occurrence has meant that a vintage that was expected to be short has turned out to be quite the opposite. In the first days of September, abundant rainfall made it possible to achieve yields of almost 9,000 kilograms per hectare. A fact that has ensured that the harvest of 2022 verdejo wine is considered to be excellent.
Characteristics of a good 2022 Verdejo wine
From now on, what can we expect from the wines that will leave the winery? What characteristics must a Verdejo wine possess to be considered good or very good? First of all, these wines must be made in a 85% with a type of white grape with the same name and which is grown in the Rueda DO: the Verdejo grape.
Other characteristics of this kind of wines that make them unmistakable to the senses are:
- Aged for 3 months on fine lees with an overnight harvest and maceration with skins for 4-5 hours at 10ºC.
- Fermentation is carried out at 13.5ºC.
- Verdejo wines are powerful on the nose, fruity and with notes of green apple, citrus and aromatic herbs.
- On the palate, they are particularly fresh, intense, fruity and balanced. They do, however, have a slight bitter touch.
- Its colour is straw yellow with green reflections, clean and bright.
- The ideal serving temperature is between 8 and 10ºC.
- They are versatile wines, allowing a very simple pairing.
Three verdejos for your table
At this point, you may be asking yourself how to choosing a good wine for a dinner party or for any other occasion. From HG Mallorca, we would like to bring you three recommendations that we consider to be a wise decision:
- Mar i Niguls Verdejo
With a pale yellow colour with greenish and steely reflections, this wine offers aromas of tropical fruit, cut grass, fig leaf, tomato, citrus and minerals. The palate offers great volume with persistence and a fresh, well-integrated acidity. - Oro de Castilla Verdejo
Wine made with a Verdejo 100%. A pale yellow with greenish reflections, with an intense aroma of white fruit, cut grass, balsamic, citrus and minerals. Good volume with persistence in the mouth and hints of tropical fruit. A wine of great balance. - Aura Verdejo
Made from 100% Verdejo grapes. An aromatic wine with fragrances of white fruit and citrus and small mineral notes. It is balanced, full and fresh in the mouth, with good acidity and an interesting and persistent finish.
