Herdade Do Esporao Reserva White 2016
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Robert
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Winemaker Notes
Crystalline, straw-like with green flecks, the 2016 Reserva shows yellow fruit notes, grapefruit and lemon, slightly toasted spices, and some minerality that highlights aromatic freshness. On the palate, the wine is creamy, with structure and volume. Balanced, packed with fruit with a long and elegant finish.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Reserva Branco is a terrific one this year, an equal blend of mostly Antão Vaz, Roupeiro and Arinto. About 40% of the juice was aged for six months in a 60/40 mixture of new American and French oak, with the rest in stainless steel. This comes in at 13.5% alcohol. Over the years, the depth has increased with this bottling, and the structure is better. Plus, the oak impact is less. This looks like one of the best offerings in this brand. It is beautifully focused and has a bite on the finish. It adds reasonably good depth, caressing initial mouthfeel and well-integrated wood, all nicely matched by the acidity. This is a great food wine that should age reasonably well, too. The acidity this year should support it as it ages, but let's take that in stages. There were 240,000 bottles produced, which means this well-priced bargain should be available.
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Wine Spectator
A graceful, full-bodied white, with a waxy texture lining the glazed apple, peach and baking spice notes, underpinned by white blossom, almond and lanolin details. Hints of lemon oil, herb and honeysuckle dovetail on the long finish. Arinto, Roupeiro and Antão Vaz. Drink now through 2023.
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Herdade do Esporão ("The Esporão Homestead") with nearly 700 hectares of organic vineyards and olive groves, proudly stands as the largest organic estate in Portugal. Located in the Alentejo’s, Reguengos Sub-Region, Herdade do Esporão produces full-bodied yet elegant wines that are rounded and seductive, due to the combination of poor, stony soils, and a dramatic climate. It is here, that Alentejo wines are most balanced, whilst powerful, appealing, lively and with good aging potential.
Herdade do Esporão boasts a rich history, with its boundaries that have remained unchanged since the year 1267. The winery is often represented by the iconic white tower, built in the 1400's which stands a symbol of the historical shift from Mid-evil to Modern times in Portugal. Today, Herdade do Esporão remains under the ownership of the Roquette family. Together, both family and estate represent a winery that is founded on sustainability and organic agricultural practices. These practices reflect a commitment to making the finest products that nature provides in a responsible and inspiring way.
With hundreds of white grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended white wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used in white wine blends, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a soft and full-bodied white wine blend, like Chardonnay, would do well combined with one that is more fragrant and naturally high in acidity. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
Responsible for a majority of Portugal’s fine wine production—and over half of the world’s cork production—Alentejo represents a major force in Portugal’s wine industry. This southern Portugese region is characterized by stretches of rolling plains and vineyards dotted with majestic cork oaks. Access to land enables the farmers of Alentejo to produce wines in great economies of scale, without compromising quality, compared to those regions to the north. The region of Alentejo indeed covers a third of the country.
Its classified (DOP) wines must come from one of eight subregions, where elevations are a bit higher, air cooler and less fertile soils are perfect for vines. The optimal regions are Portalegre, Borba, Redondo, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Granja-Amareleja, Vidigueira, Evora and Moura. Alentejo is not without the conveniences of modern winemaking as well. Irrigation supplements low rainfall and temperature control in the winery assures high quality wines.
The potential of the area has attracted many producers and its wine production continues to grow. Alentejo’s charming, fruit-forward wines have naturally led to local and global popularity.
White wines tend to be blends of Antão Vaz, Roupeiro and Arinto. However, in growing proportions, the white grapes Verdelho, Alvarinho and Viognier have been enjoying success. But red varieties actually exceed whites in Alentejo. Aragonez, Trincadeira, Alicante Bouschet and Castelão grapes blend well together and are responsible for most of the Alentejo reds.