The 2013 Cuesta de Oro is produced with the grapes grown on modern vineyards with trellises and is also fermented in 600-liter oak barrels. Golden-colored with some ripe, exotic aromas and creamy notes intermixed with sensations of chalk, wax, dried apricots and a slightly bitter finish while the palate reveals low acidity – a little unusual for 2013. The wine spent nine months in barrel and finished fermentation with 13% alcohol. Drink 2014-2017. The Lurton brothers recently sold their Rueda winery to Torres and are looking for a new location to produce their wines. Most of their grapes are machine-harvested and there is no malolactic fermentation for the whites. They like to harvest Sauvignon early and Verdejo late, with almost one month difference. Importer: Seaview Imports, NY

Considerably more serious is the 2009 Hermanos Lurton Cuesta de Oro, a 100% Verdejo sourced from a single vineyard with very low yields. It was barrel-fermented in 25% new 600-liter French oak sur lie with 9 months batonnage. Slightly reticent notes of smoke, mineral, nutmeg, almonds, spring flowers, white peach, and pear compose the bouquet of this creamy textured, spicy, lengthy white. This nicely proportioned effort has good volume, well integrated oak, and a lengthy, fruit-filled finish. Bodega Francois Lurton’s newest releases are uniformly excellent. Importer: Adam Sager, Winesellers Ltd., Niles, IL; Tel. (847) 647-1100

A rarity, the 2008 Cuesta de Oro is a barrel-fermented, oak-aged Verdejo that spent six months on its lees with batonnage. It offers up an attractive perfume of mineral, baking spices, citrus, and melon. On the palate the oak is well integrated while contributing to the wine’s creamy texture. Ripe, tasty, and well-balanced, it should drink well for another 2-3 years. Importer: Adam Sager, Winesellers Ltd., Skokie, IL; tel. (847) 679-0121

No tasting note was given.