2007 Bodegas Angel Rodriguez Martinsancho Verdejo Rueda, Spain

91 points from Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Pale yellow-gold. Intensely perfumed, complex nose displays fresh lime, grapefruit, anise, herbs and white flowers. Nervy citrus flavors are complicated by thyme, licorice and white pepper, with bracing minerality adding verve. The finish clings tenaciously, repeating the mineral and floral notes. Weightless, precise and impressively persistent, with a filigree quality that is really alluring." (Jul/Aug '08) When I was in Rueda earlier in the year I realized a few things. One was how vigorous the Verdejo vine was, it grows like a weed and produces an amazing amount of fruit, something like 30 or more bunches to a vine. This is simply too much and the great producers like Angel Rodriguez have to be incredibly diligent in the vineyard to cut this crop down and nurture a few bunches rather than a truckload. The other realization came in the way of just how delicious these wines truly were when made correctly. Before I just viewed them as cheap and one-dimensional, this is simply not the case with the Martinsancho. Sweet pea, lime flesh and a floral note similar to a Calla Lily are all present here. Juicy and refreshing, this is chock-full of vibrant citrus fruit and cleansing quartz-like minerality. Perfect for a warm evening or picnic with cured meats, creamy cheeses and crusty bread or for the more adventurous a batch of calamares frito. (Bryan Brick, K&L)