Menade, Rueda (Castilla y León, Spain) Verdejo 2018

 Made from organically farmed grapes, this is the best Verdejo from Rueda I’ve tasted in a couple of years, and my work takes me through a lot of bottles in this category.  The melon and stone fruit aromas and flavors are exceptionally pure, without the barest hint of sulfur (which is the Achilles Heel of this wine category…far too many wines are marred by overt sulfur scents).  Subtle mineral notes lend added interest to the finish, but what is most exceptional about this is the perfect balance of fruit and acidity.  And when I write “perfect,” I mean perfect:  The citrusy acidic edge rides along the juicy fruit notes in perfect proportionality from the instant the wine hits one’s tongue to the very end of the long, symmetrical finish.  An absolute standout.  I showed this to 32 tasters in a wine class, and all 33 of us loved the wine.