Altas Quintas White 2008

The Altas Quintas estate, situated in north-eastern Alentejo, deep in the heart of rural Portugal, stretches across 256 hectares and encompasses two major areas of farmland lying parallel at an altitude between 496 m and 770 m. Nestled high in the gently sloping hills of the São Mamede Natural Park, the property also includes 48 ha of vines, 80 ha of pine forest, 50 ha of orchards and 8 ha of olive groves.
Growing a host of native grape varieties, such as Trincadeira and Aragonez for reds and Verdelho and Arinto for whites, the quinta also features smaller percentages of varieties with strong oenological potential, such as Alicante Bouschet, Alfrocheiro, Shyraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Operating under a fully integrated, property-wide management framework, the vineyard benefits from cutting-edge vine training methods, computerized irrigation and optimized drainage systems.


Altas Quintas White 2008
Producer: Altas Quintas
Region: Alentejo
Alcohol: 13.5% vol
Price: N/D
Made from the grape varieties Verdelho and Arinto, the wine was fermented in new barrels of French oak, and then aged for 6 months in the same barrels.
It features a bright straw color. The first sensation is the freshness that emanates from the wine. The wine shows tropical fruit, some citrus, some smoke notes, coconut and honey. The barrel show a little bit yet but will integrate soon. In between each of these notes, the wine always shows freshness.
In the mouth, despite showing a certain greasiness, a certain body, we find a wine more a case of finesse and freshness, than body and volume. A compromise between the volume and finesse. It has an great acidity and ends with medium/long persistence, with hints of honey and pineapple.

16.5 Points

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Esporão 2007 1º Prémio da Confraria dos Enófilos do Alentejo

It 's been 18 years since the Brotherhood of Alentejo's Oenophiles, tests every year the best that is produced in the region. This year, for the third time, as it has been in 1998 and 2000, A Esporão wine took the price. This 1st Prize of the Brotherhood of Oenophiles of Alentejo, just like it is on the label, is a wine for collection, with 2 different labels produced by Ana Jotta and inspired by the old labels of Esporão.

But let's taste the wine:

Esporão 2007 1º Prémio da Confraria dos Enófilos do Alentejo
Producer - Esporão
Region - Alentejo
Alchool - 15% vol
Price - from € 39
This wine is made from Touriga Nacional, Alicante Bouschet and Touriga Franca. The varieties were vinified separately and aged for 6 months in new barrels of American oak.
Dense in color, almost impenetrable. Strong impact of depth on the nose. Rich and dense, this wine shows notes of black currant and blackberry, joined by notes of pencil lead, licorice and spices. With some time of air comes the floral notes with hints of freshness, that the initial perception was not suggesting in any way. Great job on the barrel, with this very well integrated, without display, staggering the set.
In the mouth the continuation of depth and density, with the wine to show its powerful, full bodied, but classy. The acid and tannins seem to be involved in the body, this wine looks velvety, but always in tune concentration again with hints of freshness. Good persistence with hints of chocolate, is the end of a wine of strong emotions.
It really is a wine that inflicts strong emotions, because of the density, the structure, but at the same time it has some freshness, despite the 15 degrees of alcohol, that shoes in the label. Asks for food? Undoubtedly .......
17.5 Points

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