2022 Quinta do Soalheiro - Primeiras Vinhas Alvarinho
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The 2022 Primeiras Vinhas comes from the plot of Alvarinho that gives the name “Soalheiro” to the project, the place where the first vines were planted in 1974. Whole bunches had a soft pressing to avoid extracting too much tannin, which can give a bitter twist to the wine. The juice fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel, used barrels and 5,000-liter oak vats, with some 15% of the volume in oak and without temperature control. It was kept with lees until April and then blended. It has 13% alcohol, a pH of 3.17 and 5.8 grams of acidity, parameters of a riper and warmer year. It has a complex nose and less fruit character. It’s serious, defined and balanced with a chalky sensation, vibrant and fresh but with a rounder palate and a dry finish. 20,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2023.
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Vines at least 30 years old. Intense, pure, lemon/grapefruit, intensely fresh fruit but also a strong mineral character in crushed stones. Taut and lean on the palate. I expected greater intensity from older vines. It is long but I don't see a huge difference compared with the regular bottling. In fact I find the regular Alvarinho more complete. (JH)