Cuatro Rayas Cuarenta Vendimias Cuvée Gran Vino de Rueda 2023

Cuatro Rayas is a large Rueda cooperative working Verdejo, the grape that made the region's name. Rueda sits on a high plateau in Castilla y Leon, on stony, gravel-topped soils that drain freely, and the wide gap between hot days and cold nights preserves the acidity and aromatics that define good Verdejo. This cuvee is fermented in stainless steel and aged on its lees, a method that has moved Verdejo beyond its old reputation as a wine to drink within a year. Lees ageing releases mannoproteins that broaden the texture and add a subtle creaminess, giving the wine more weight and staying power while keeping the fruit fresh. Vegan-friendly fining is used. The colour is pale straw with a green tint. The nose is fresh and typical of the grape, with grapefruit, green apple, fennel and a herbal, faintly grassy note. The palate is crisp and textured, the lees weight balanced by firm acidity, ending on the grape's characteristic bitter, herbal twist. Serve well chilled at 9 to 11 degrees.