Naia Prehistórico – Vino de Nieva 2023

Naia makes this Verdejo in D.O. Rueda, on the high plain of Castilla y Leon, from the village of Nieva. The vineyards sit above 700 metres on stony, sandy soils, some of them old ungrafted vines that survived the phylloxera era on this poor free draining ground. The altitude drives a wide swing between hot days and cold nights, which slows ripening and locks in the acidity and the grape's signature herbal lift. The fruit is fermented and then aged around nine months in barrel on its fine lees. Regular stirring of the lees releases mannoproteins that build a broad, savoury texture, while the oak adds a light toast and a slow oxygen exchange that rounds the wine without overwhelming the Verdejo character. The colour is bright gold. The nose shows ripe pear, white peach and lemon over a fennel and dried herb edge, with a faint toasted character from the barrel. The palate is broad and textured, the lees weight carrying a savoury depth into a long finish that closes on the grape's typical bitter almond twist. Serve at 10 to 12 degrees.