Oro de Castilla Finca Los Hornos

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Bodegas Hermanos del Villar - Oro de Castilla is a family-owned winery located in Rueda, with a strong focus on crafting exceptionally high-quality wines. Its origins trace back to 1955 when Pablo del Villar Escudero arrived in Rueda, marking the inception of the del Villar family's engagement in the region. Later, between 1989 and 1990, the first vineyards were planted with the Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc, and Tempranillo varieties. Oro de Castilla Finca los Hornos represents a once “impossible” vision, nearly abandoned due to low yields and quality. Instead, they embraced a radical approach to viticulture and winemaking to harness the potential of this unique plot with its unusually acidic, gypsum-rich soil beneath river stones. This former brick kiln site has, over a decade, produced one of Rueda’s most distinctive Verdejos, characterized by elegance, subtlety, and salinity—not opulence and volume.

WHAT MAKES THIS WINE UNIQUE?

Sourced from our renowned Finca de los Hornos vineyard, this Verdejo is crafted from grapes that reflect the distinct terroir of the plot. The vineyard's unusually acidic, stony soils yield a limited but uniquely expressive crop, giving this wine a one-of-a-kind profile with remarkable depth and character.

RATING HISTORY:

2021 91pts Peñín Guide

GRAPE:

100% Verdejo. Organically grown single vineyard planted in 1990. Tended in river stone soil at 719 m (2,359ft) elevation. This is a vegan wine.

PAIRING SUGGESTIONS:

Pairs well with fatty fish, white meats, pasta, cold cuts, cheeses, and smoked dishes.

VINIFICATION AND AGING:

The vinification process for this Verdejo begins with rapid cooling of the grapes, followed by a brief maceration before pressing and cold settling. Fermentation unfolds in 850L wooden casks at a controlled low temperature, relying solely on the wine’s native yeasts to preserve the pure varietal aromas of Verdejo. After fermentation, the wine matures on its lees for 8 months, enhancing complexity, and is lightly clarified before bottling.

LOCATION, SOIL, CLIMATE:

Located in the villages of Rueda and La Seca within the Rueda DO, the bodega's vineyards sit at 719 meters (2,359 ft.), benefiting from a distinctive terroir. A deep layer of river stones and sand provides excellent drainage, while the limestone and clay subsoil retains essential moisture, supporting vine health. The soils, low in organic matter, encourage low vigor and yield, enhancing the grapes' aromatic intensity and flavor. The Continental climate, marked by hot days, cool nights, and low annual rainfall (16.4 inches), extends the ripening period, resulting in wines that are fresh, crisp, and complex with intense aromatics.

TASTING NOTES:

Pale yellow with golden highlights, this wine presents an elegant nose with aromas of stone fruit, subtle wood, cut grass, balsamic, citrus (grapefruit), and minerals, finishing with a hint of peat. On the palate, it is round and refined, offering fresh, well-integrated acidity and a very long aniseed aftertaste. A harmonious blend of fullness and freshness, it showcases mineral notes, great balance, and persistent complexity.

ALCOHOL CONTENT:

13%

UPC CODE:

8437025118403