Vinho Do Altar 2024, Wine & Soul

Full unusually flute-shaped bottle 1,291 g. Viosinho, Gouveio and Arinto planted on a north-facing site at 600 m in Fermentões, in the highlands of Sabrosa. Slow, cool fermentation in tank over 4 weeks and then aged on lees for 8 months. TA 6.9 g/l, pH 3.12. The Wine & Soul wines seem to have a trademark combination of intensity and subtlety. This smells of citrus, fresh pears and green fruits, with a light impression of stone dust to tone down the fruit, but the intensity is more marked on the palate: high but balanced acidity, firmly textured as if there were a slight phenolic grip from the skins, and rounded and deepened by the lees, yet with a stony-dry finish. Intense, almost chewy, and vibrantly fresh. Should age well.

“The pale and delicate 2024 Vinha do Altar Reserva Branco is from a 13-year-old vineyard in the plateau of Fermentões at 600 meters above sea level on schist soils and with a northern exposition. The vineyard was planted by them with a mixture of Gouveio, Viosinho and Arinto. The grapes fermented in stainless steel, and the wine was bottled unoaked after eight months with the fine lees. It has a floral and perfumed nose, clean and expressive, pure and primary. It comes in at 12.5% alcohol, with a low pH of 3.12 and 6.9 grams of acidity, coming through as fresh and vibrant with a citrus touch and a salty twist in the finish. 6,900 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2025.”