Dão Branco Vinhas Velhas, Antonio Madeira

Aromas of flint, peaches, citrus and salt. Intense and energetic, the palate is medium- to full-bodied, with rich and enveloping flavors. Simultaneously precise and vibrant. Textured and layered with great persistence. Incredible harmony. This is a blend of cerceal, encruzado, bical, siria, fernao pires and others of around 50 to 100 years old. The wine ferments in a combination of tanks and barriques. It then ages for one year in 500-liter French oak and another 10 months in stainless steel. This wine completes malolactic fermentation. The vineyards are biodynamic. One of the great wines of the region.

Blend af mange forskellige lokale druer fra gamle vinstokke. Meget rank, syrlig og stringent med masser af mineralske noter. En spændende atypisk vin som i den grad renser munden men samtidig giver en masser af dybde og længde. Spændende vellavet vin!

The old-vine white 2021 Vinhas Velhas Branco was produced with the fruit from some 15 small plots of old vines aged between 60 and 130 years of age and planted with a myriad of old varieties—Síria, Bical, Fernão Pires, Encruzado, Arinto, Cerceal and Malvasia Fina—on slopes with granite soils. It's inspired by the natural vinification of some Burgundy wines. It fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured in 500-liter barrels for 12 months and a further 10 months in stainless steel. It has moderate ripeness and alcohol (12%) with a pH of 3.33 and 5.29 grams of acidity. It has an incredible nose that is nuanced, complex, elegant and changing, with notes of herbs, wild flowers and earth. It has a very tasty and saline palate that is subtle with great purity of flavors, clean and precise. It reminds me of some whites from Ganevat. - Luis Gutierrez

The striking nose toyed with reduction to brilliant effect, Coche-like in style without the price tag. Walnut, hazelnut, hints of vervain tea and crushed rock soared from the glass with clinical precision. I was instantly hooked. The palate is supremely well balanced with perfect acidity and notes of crushed stone, green olive and a touch of clementine. From the start, this is surfeit with tension and sports incredible length. I must confess it was a revelation and a contender for my value white of the year. - Neal Martin

Struck match nose; the palate is earthier, with whetstone. Silky white peach and thrusting breakfast grapefruit acidity makes for an agile palate. This sprightly old field blend (20 varieties, from 20 different 50- to 120-year-old vineyards) spent a year in 50:50 500-litre French oak and inox, then another year in inox. With tension and funky twang – a weightless gravity – it tantalises the taste buds.

Denne er ikke en vin for alle og enhver. Men nøj, den er spændende. Field blend med hen imod en snes forskellige sorter fra op til 120 år gamle stokke fra granitholdig jord. Fjerlet, men dog intenst og strunk vin, der kun langsomt frigiver sin kraft. En Dauvissat i kølig portugisisk forklædning; ulmende, stram, udtalt mineralsk næse med bagt æble, gul blomme, æbleblomst og citrus samt en lille spicy note, som kommer og går. Smagen er uhyre præcis, slank og syredrevet med en udpræget salt karakter. Virkelig distinkt og karakterfuld vin med tiden foran sig. Læg den ned i et par år.

This dry white is a field blend of about 20 indigineous varieties, from 50- to 100-years-old vines. It is elegant and refined with crystalline acidity and pure floral and fennel aromas. It is aged for 18 months mainly in stainless steel, but a small proportion sees time in French oak which adds complexity and texture, all wrapped up in a saline mouthfeel. A full-bodied serious food wine.