Quite a beguiling wine from this well known and high achieving Alentejo winemaker. Straight from the off, the nose hits you with aniseed, butterscotch and citrus. The freshness and verve for an Alentejo white are impressive. The blend is almost entirely of grape varieties you’d expect to find way further north (in Vinho Verde or the Douro valley).
There’s a note of straw or lanolin, a limey kick and some lean apricot and even gooseberry.
A fair bit of oak influence is evident, but it kind of works. It’s well integrated, and hasn’t overawed the fruit.