2023 Soalheiro Alvarinho Reserva
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How fresh and juicy the wine is: acidity makes your mouth water. High acidity tastes lively and refreshing, low acidity soft and round.
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The bars follow how sommeliers taste (WSET): body, tannin, sweetness and acidity, each from low to high.
Body: medium-bodied. Fuller than most white wines from Vinho Verde; 12.5% alcohol.
Acidity: high. from the cool climate of Vinho Verde.
Aromas: flowers, green notes and stone fruit, typical of
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Log inHistory of Quinta de Soalheiro and owners
Quinta de Soalheiro was founded in 1974 in Melgaço, the northernmost point of Portugal, on the border with Spain. The Cerdeira family was one of the first to recognize the potential of the Alvarinho grape in this region. In 1982, João António Cerdeira bottled the first wine under the Soalheiro name. Today, his son Luís Cerdeira runs the estate, together with his sisters and the next generation. Soalheiro has become a leading house in the Vinho Verde region and is internationally known for its high-quality Alvarinho wines, which are produced with respect for nature and tradition.
Region, climate and location of the vineyards
The Soalheiro vineyards are located in Monção and Melgaço, a sub-region of Vinho Verde. This region is unique because of the microclimate created by the shelter of the surrounding mountains. This creates an ideal balance between rainfall, sunshine and temperature. The soils are mainly granite, which contributes to the freshness and minerality of the wines. The vineyards are located at an altitude of 100 to 200 meters, which promotes the natural acidity and aromatic expression of the grapes.
The Alvarinho grape in this white wine
The 2024 Soalheiro Alvarinho Reserva is made from 100% Alvarinho, a grape variety known for its aromatic power, fresh acidity and subtle structure. Alvarinho is one of the most noble white grapes of Portugal and produces dry wines with a bright character, complex fruit profile and good ageing capacity. Only the best grapes from older vines in selected plots are used for the Reserva.
Harvest, vinification and maturation
The grapes are harvested by hand in small baskets of 15 kilos to maintain the quality. After the harvest, the juice is gently pressed and cold cleared. Fermentation takes place partly in used and partly in new French oak barrels. The wine then matures for several months in these barriques on the fine yeast cells, with regular bâtonnage. This technique provides extra creaminess and depth, without losing the fresh Alvarinho style. The balance between wood use and grape expression is carefully tuned.
Color, aroma and taste of the 2024 Reserva
The wine has a bright lemon yellow color with golden reflections. In the nose a refined palette emerges of ripe peach, citrus fruits, light tropical fruit and subtle vanilla tones. The use of wood is elegantly integrated. In the mouth the wine is full and structured, with lively acids that provide freshness. The taste is layered with ripe yellow fruit, fine spiciness, and a long, dry finish. A white wine with body and character, which can be used gastronomically without any effort.
Would you like to order wines from Quinta de Soalheiro online?
This wine is stored in our conditioned Wine Warehouse. If you choose to pick up the wine yourself in Dordrecht, you will often receive an attractive discount. You will see the pick-up discount immediately when you choose 'Pick up' on the checkout page. Our location is easily accessible, almost directly on the A16, and you can park in front of our door. Click here for our address.
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Wine and food combinations
Grilled sea bass with lemon and green herbs
The fresh acids of the wine enhance the salty character of the fish and accentuate the herbs.
Pasta with creamy lemon sauce and artichoke
The creaminess of the sauce is nicely supported by the ripe structure of the wine, while the citrus in the wine and the dish come together.
Ravioli with ricotta and sage-butter sauce
The wine cuts through the buttery mouthfeel, bringing balance and elegance to the dish.
Veal fillet with white asparagus and mousseline sauce
The creamy components in the dish complement the yeast notes and oak of the wine perfectly.
Tuna sashimi with sesame and ponzu
The freshness of the wine contrasts beautifully with the umami of the tuna and the salty freshness of the ponzu.
Baked duck breast with apricot chutney
The ripe fruit character of the wine comes to the fore in combination with the sweet and sour of the chutney and the full meat.
Character
The wine
- 100%
Origin
Bottle
Wine features
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 92
Reviewed by:
Luis Gutiérrez
Release Price:
$50
Drink Date:
2023 - 2029
The 2022 Alvarinho Reserva is a barrel-fermented Alvarinho. They first produced this wine in 1995 after winemaker Luis Cerdeira staged in Burgundy at the end of his studies. At first, he used new barrels that marked the wine too much and soon realized Alvarinho needed something subtler. The big change was with the 2006 vintage. Now, 25% of the wine is in first- and second-year 225- and 600-liter oak barrels, with the rest in used, more neutral ones. 2022 was a dry and warm year, and the wine already has some honeyed hints. It's a little spicy and has a gentle palate, 13% alcohol and good freshness and acidity. 10,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in October 2023.
Soalheiro has been one of my favorite Alvarinho producers for a long time. They planted the first Alvarinho vineyard in Melgaço 50 years ago, in 1974, in a field called Soalheiro. They started in 1982 and have grown a lot in the last 10 years. They now have a full range of whites, sparkling and still, with an R&D cellar where they try to push the grape variety to the limit. They work 95 hectares of vines on granite soils, 15 of them certified organic (the first was in 2006), and they have planted two hectares at 1,100 meters in altitude looking for solutions for global warming and work with local growers that cultivate a further 80 hectares in Monçao and Melgaço. Production is 900,000 bottles per year.
They are very concerned about climate change; in 2023, they started harvesting on August 23, earlier than ever, with low yields from mildew but good quality. 2022 was dry and healthy, with riper grapes and slightly lower acidity but better than anticipated. 2021 was challenging and complex but with a longer cycle and cooler temperatures.
Published: Apr 04, 2024
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Quinta de Soalheiro is located in the northernmost point of Portugal, in the sub-region of the Vinho Verde area, called Monção e Melgaço. Protected by a mountain range in the north, the vineyards are ideally located for growing the Alvarinho grape, with just enough of everything: sun, heat and rainfall. It was these unique circumstances that led João Antonio Cerdeira to plant his first alvarinho vineyard here in 1974. João has since been succeeded by his children Luis and Maria, who have further developed and perfected the company. Everything is done here with a great sense of detail. The vineyards are cultivated organically and the winemaking process has only one purpose: to make pure and harmonious wines. Soalheiro has a great reputation both in Portugal itself and abroad.
Deze Alvarinho Reserva toont een helder palet van citrus, rijpe perzik en gele appel met subtiele honing- en vanilletonen van het hout, een lichte kruidigheid en frisse, levendige zuren die de volle, geraffineerde textuur in balans houden. Daardoor snijdt de wijn prachtig door romige sauzen zoals een citroen-artisjokpasta of ravioli met ricotta en saliebotersaus, versterkt hij het ziltige van gegrilde of gebakken witte vis met citroen en kruiden en vormt hij een mooie tegenhanger van umami-rijke bereidingen zoals seared tonijn of sashimi met ponzu; ga bij vis en schaal- en schelpdieren voor eenvoudige grill- of kort aangebakken bereiding zodat de frisheid en mineraliteit van de wijn volledig tot hun recht komen.
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