Alan Hyde

9.1

Big fruit. Not what I’m used to for Spanish. — 4 days ago

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. — 6 hours ago

Alfonso Serrano

9.6

De los mejores vinos españoles que he probado. — 6 months ago

Jennifer

9.4

Smooth - 2020 — 2 years ago

Trevor Nowlan

9.0

Woodsy, fresh, yet dry. Nice Bobal grape. — 3 years ago

Joachim Modlich

9.7

I had the 2014 in 2022. Full body and elegance. From a winery right at the border to Ribero del Duero. — 4 years ago

Joe Santiago

9.2

Black pepper and berries and cocoa, oh my! — 5 years ago

Delta Golf

9.0

Surprised. Great wine. Had to open up to express itself. — 12 days ago

Kay Patterson

9.3

Best wine for the price — 12 days ago

Daniel Diaz

10

2026 Cruise Wine — 3 months ago

Chris Albin

Winemaker, Azari Vineyards Winemaker, Corskcrew Wines

9.0

Fresh, bright, solid body, tasty. — 5 months ago

Oscar Díaz Maldonado

9.1

Rioja clasico con tonos frutosos y ligero al paladar — 8 months ago

with Verena and Virginia

Roman Ochocki

9.0

I expected more. But it's very good anyway. Rather light with red fruit, tobacco and licorice. — 3 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

8.9

Extremely earthy. Aromas and flavors of red and black fruits with hints of smoke, black licorice and roasted mint leaves. Just a touch of Brett. Really dense (including the color) and concentrated. Fine tannins. Rustic but elegant. Thanks a mark B. — 4 years ago

Dave

9.1

Northern Wisconsin with the family this week. I brought wine from the USA, Africa, Italy, and this one from Spain. Very nice! I guess i wrote this up a few months ago, so no need to repeat myself. Excellent value wine.
Listening to Band of Horses — 9 days ago

K L

9.2

Kurt wine. Lovely. Upgraded version of a lower priced option but worth it. Would get again. Dry, earthy, balanced, dusty in a good way. — a month ago

with Matt

Tegan Marriott

9.1

Prime rib dinner @ my chef sister's house! This was a great pairing! Dark, plummy,fig, chocolate and java w/ enough acidity. Good vibes! We all likey it a lot!! — 6 months ago

MaJ CappS

9.1

Absolutely lovely.
Well balanced, dark fruits dance with long tannin.
— 3 years ago

Ming L

9.2

Excellent Tempranillo from another relatively young bodega, from Castilla y Leon. Ripe berry fruits with licorice, thyme, and a lovely balsamic touch. Need time to round out the sharp acidity and the firm tannins, but at this young age it paired very well with a juicy steak. — 4 years ago

Charles Mires

9.3

Outstanding. Full bodied. Nice balance and finish. — 5 years ago