Cantalapiedra Viticultores "La Otea" Rueda Verdejo 2022

Wine Advocate : 96 Points

(6/19/2025) The 2022 La Otea was produced with Verdejo from pre-phylloxera ungrafted vines planted on sandy soils, from different plots in different villages, some of them over 100 years of age. The clusters were pressed, and the juice with all the solids was put to ferment with indigenous yeasts in used French oak barrels for 25 days with full malolactic. The wine matured for 11 months in those barrels, followed by another 11 months in stainless steel. This is lower in alcohol, 12.5%, and has a low pH of 3.05 and 6.54 grams of acidity. I think this is definitely the finest vintage for this wine, and it has an aromatic profile close to El Espejo - faintly reductive and flinty, with some hints of toasted sesame seeds. It has a vibrant palate that makes you salivate; it's very chalky and has effervescent acidity and notes of lemon pith. It's really superb, with a very complete palate, great depth and persistence. Some 2,000 bottles were filled in August 2024.