Malcorta is an extremely unusual clone of Verdejo, almost extinct. It means "hard to cut" or hard to grow, and so many winegrowers gave up cultivating it until Javier Sanz found some old vines in Rueda, and revived the vineyard. White gold color, with floral notes of geranium, rose, lychee and calamansi, a pleasantly mild acidity, round and fruity, aromas of peach and pear on the palate. It is delicious white wine and great value for money. In the late 19th century, Agustin Nanclares founded one of the pioneering wineries of Rueda in the small village of La Seca. Today, Javier Sanz, great-grandson and successor, tend to 100 hectares of vineyards on the left bank of the Duero River (some even just 1,500m from the river Duero). The D.O. Rueda region is mainly flatlands, though high in altitude, about 700m above sea level and continental climate. The vineyards are located on gentle slops which provide the vines with air. The “Terroir” is made of pebbly and sandy soils with clay and limestone sub-soils. Since 2000, Javier Sanz has worked on the recovery of abandoned varieties; this is the case of Verdejo Malcorta, which we only find today in the family vineyards and that has been recovered for its intense floral aromas and its higher level of acidity over the conventional Verdejo.
