Description
QUINTA DA FONTE SOUTO
WHITE 2021
THE WINE
The Fonte Souto Estate white wine embodies all the strengths of the
property’s unique terroir: the freshness and balance afforded by the altitude;
the concentration, which derives from mature, low-yielding vines, and the
complexity and structure provided by the barrel fermentation sur-lie (on
the lees) with bâtonnage. This white allows for maximum expression of the
Arinto, widely regarded as Portugal’s finest white grape variety and has a
smaller Verdelho component.
VINTAGE OVERVIEW
We had a long harvest, starting on August 17th and ending on October 8th.
First to be picked was Verdelho. The Arinto was harvested in stages from the
end of August, to produce wines with differing profiles. A cool July provided
excellent levels of acidity in the white grapes, delivering fresh, expressive
aromatics. From mid- August, rising temperatures provoked a rapid advance
in maturations, pointing to an early vintage. That wasn’t to be, though, as
lower temperatures and rain returned at the end of the month, slowing
maturations, and prompting us to pause the vintage, which only picked up
again for the remaining reds. This is a year of elegance, with the acidity and
aromatic exuberance expected from a cooler year, combining with very fine
textures and balance.
WINEMAKING
The hand-picked grapes are placed in small, shallow boxes and taken to the
on-site winery. Manual sorting is followed by de-stemming and gentle
crushing after which the grapes are transferred to a pneumatic press for a
light pressing. Fermentation begins in stainless steel vats but immediately
after alcoholic fermentation commences, part of the must is transferred to
500-liter French oak barrels (this higher capacity minimizes the impact of
the wood on the aromatic component). The must is left in contact with the
lees with frequent bâtonnage (stirring the lees) in order to encourage
extraction of compounds that contribute complexity and structure and that
balance very well with the good acidity provided by the altitude of the São
Mamede Range.
WINEMAKERS
Charles Symington, Pedro Correia and
José Daniel Soares (resident
winemaker)
GRAPE VARIETIES
75% Arinto
25% Verdelho
AGING
60% of the blend was fermented in
500-liter oak barrels in contact with
the lees. The final blend was aged
seven months in a combination of
new French and central European oak
(55%); in second and third-year wood
(40%), and in stainless steel vats (5%).
Bottled in July 2022
Suitable for Vegans.
TASTING NOTE
Lots of lemon zest and stone character
with some fresh herbs such as
lemongrass. Medium to full body.
Layered and creamy. Dried white
peach. Lots of dried citrus.
WINE SPECIFICATION
Alcohol: 14.5% vol
Total acidity: 6.1 g/l tartaric acid
STORAGE & SERVING
Ready to drink but has good aging
potential.
SCORES
93 Points, James Suckling, 2023
93 Points, Decanter, 2023
91 Points, Wine Enthusiast, 2023
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