Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Pago del Cielo Celeste Verdejo Sur Lies 2023 – Rueda DO, Castilla y León, Spain 🇪🇸

Overview
Made from 100% Verdejo, this wine undergoes sur lies aging, allowing extended contact with the lees to build texture and complexity while preserving the variety’s vibrant freshness. The result is a beautifully balanced Verdejo that overdelivers with remarkable depth and value.

Aromas & Flavors
Lime zest, grapefruit, green apple, white peach, fennel, fresh herbs, and subtle citrus blossom are complemented by delicate lees-derived notes of fresh bread and almond.

Mouthfeel
Bright and energetic with lively acidity wrapped around a creamy, silky texture. The sur lies aging adds weight and complexity without introducing buttery richness, creating a beautifully focused and refreshing finish.

Food Pairings
Grilled shrimp, oysters, ceviche, seafood paella, roasted vegetables, goat cheese, sushi, or herb-roasted chicken.

Verdict
An expressive and remarkably well-crafted Verdejo that combines freshness with texture in a way few wines at this price point achieve. Elegant, refreshing, and immensely satisfying.

Did You Know?
“Sur lies” means the wine remains in contact with its spent yeast cells after fermentation. Gentle stirring of the lees (bâtonnage) can further enhance creaminess and complexity while preserving freshness, a technique often associated with top white Burgundies but increasingly embraced by premium Verdejo producers.

🍷 Personal Pick
This wine genuinely surprised me. It delivers far more complexity than expected, with the creamy lees texture beautifully balancing its vibrant acidity. For anyone who thinks Verdejo is simply another crisp white, this bottle proves just how compelling, and underrated Rueda can be. — 5 hours ago

Alvaro

9.0

No muy seco, buen sabor — 4 years ago

Nick Farrell

9.7

Cheese rind, sherbet, VA greatness. — 6 years ago

Ned Gray Creed

9.3

That’s a pure bottle of white. Bring on the Pintxos! — 7 years ago

with Jay and Mark

Ana

9.0

Con Antonio en El ulia en Benidorm — 7 years ago

Frank Bailey

9.0

Okay, so with the initial sip it seemed awfully weak, but once I let it warm a bit I was pleasantly surprised. It really opened up and opened up the fruit flavors. It is interesting, low acidity and deeper than I initially thought. I would suggest giving it a try and then let it sit in the glass in your hand and try it again. Trust me. — 7 years ago

Chris Moriak

9.4

If my local wine place has this, I always buy multiple bottles. Never disappointed. — 2 months ago

Max Gottesfeld, FWS, CSW

9.0

Drank closer to premier cru Bourgogne. — 10 months ago

Meadow Linder

9.0

I don't like whites but this one hits the spot on a warm day. — 2 years ago

Peg

9.1

This year’s white tasting winner. Light, grapefruit forward, quick finish. Very refreshing. Bet it would be good with raw bar. — 5 years ago

Gil Pontes III

9.0

Beautiful hints of citrus, light by beautiful acidity. Excellent for sipping or with seafood — 7 years ago

Jordan Wardlaw

9.2

2016 Las Suertes is a gorgeous barrel fermented Verdejo with tons of charm and character and a fair amount of complexity. Prettier and more fine-etched than expected on the palate, it shows soft fruit of honeydew melon and white peach with a succulent key lime note on the finish tinged with subtle minerality. Aromatically it suggests ripe orchard fruit and citrus blossoms with a hint of fresh coriander. More air reveals a slight tropical nuance. Nearly weightless on the palate, this is a very fresh and cleansing white that will provide an excellent counterpoint to marinated shrimp and grilled fish dishes. — 7 years ago

Jan Mudde

9.3

Zeer smakelijke witte.. met fris droge afdronk — 7 years ago

Erin

9.0

Lovely dry, rare grape — a month ago

Day Watson

9.0

Another great summer supper, slightly oxidized, good acid, bright, light-medium bodied. Organic! — 3 months ago

Rufus King

9.3

Flavorful Castilian Verdejo, served with pasta (NHSLS) — 3 years ago

Nick Loewen

9.1

Nice. Melon nose, tasty. — 6 years ago

Emily Schaefer

8.9

Crisp and light. Nice hints of citrus, pear and good acidity. Could do well at a nice dinner or on the beach. Organic and a good price. Will definitely keep this in mind for the future. — 6 years ago

Rae Grabowski

9.0

Nice and light. Good for summer. — 7 years ago

Alexandra

10

Good price, perfect for outings — 7 years ago