Esporão Private Selection white 2019: the first vintage with organic certification 12/08/2021

According to João Roquette, CEO at Esporão: “After Esporão Colheita and Esporão Reserva White, 20 years after the 1st edition of this wine in 2001, we are now launching Esporão Private Selection white 2019, the first to have organic certification. We began converting our vineyards in 2007, and it has paid off, allowing us to improve the quality of our wines”.

“The grapes for this wine originate from a vineyard planted in 1996 on a northeast-facing hillside, in the deep granitic soils and where the clay of Herdade dos Perdigões is prevalent. These vineyards, which have very low yields, have the ideal conditions for making wines of exceptional and distinctive quality. Here, the Semillon grape variety marks the beginning of the harvest, as every year it is the first vine to ripen. 2019 was no exception, with the harvest taking place on 12 August after a ripening period with consistently mild temperatures. These grapes are vinified in a unique way. The fermentation and subsequent ageing, accompanied by battonage in larger, 2 and 3-year-old barrels, enhance the texture and depth of character of this wine and this vintage, which are complex and rich, but still elegant and unique in character”, says winemaker Sandra Alves.

After ageing for about 6 months in French oak barrels, the wine remains in the bottle for another 6 months, allowing for a controlled ageing that contributes to its complex, deep and distinctive profile.

With a label illustrated by photographer Anne Geene, the Esporão Private Selection White 2019 has aromas of white plum and ripe lemon, fresh almond, spices and white chocolate. In the mouth, white-fleshed fruits stand out, complemented by fresh pepper and nutmeg. It is an intense wine with an elegant and lingering finish.