Ponte Mouchão Branco 2020

Grape Varieties: Verdelho (100%)

Tasting Notes: The Verdelho variety was already a reference in Mouchão since the beginnings of viticulture in the Herdade. The famous travel writer WH Koebel wrote in 1909 in a complete chapter dedicated to Herdade do Mouchão in his book “Portugal, its Land and People": "...whoever visits the south of Portugal and doesn't taste the real Verdelho can have mine pity but not my sympathy.” This is a delicate wine, vibrant with balance and freshness, with almost imperceptible wood notes, voluminous, and with enough concentration to suggest its provenance from the older vines of the Barragem and Mouchão Velho vines. the DOC system has not yet recovered the century-old tradition of this variety in Alentejo and hence the use of the Regional Alentejo Wine classification.

Enology: The decanted juice of Verdelho grapes harvested by hand begins its fermentation in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature before starting the main fermentation in new French oak barrels. Left to rest on the fine lees, the battonage is made every 15 days during the first 12 weeks of the 6 months of aging in barrels and before bottling at 7 months, contributing to obtain a round and voluminous wine.

Viticulture: Responsible care of the vine is critical to ensure the best fruit and keep our bees healthy. A minimal portion of Verdelho was grafted in 2015 (from a 21-year-old Perrum vineyard) on the Barragem and Mouchão Velho vineyards, with mostly skeletal, stony and alluvial clay soils. The most sheltered lines to the east are located on the banks of the great Mouchão dam, providing freshness, complexity and concentration that are uncommon in the region's white wines.

Serving Suggestions: Extremely pleasant in its youth, this Verdelho will improve with time in bottle, maybe even a decade. To accompany seafood, fish, cold dishes, salads, fresh asparagus.

Winemaker: Paulo Laureano