Cortes de Cima » General

Vintage Report 2011 – Record early start to a very good harvest

Carrie — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:47:05 +0000

“Vintages can only be understood backwards, but must be lived forwards,” to paraphrase philosopher Soren Kierkegaard.

Synopsis: Harvest 2011, our 16th harvest. Another record winter rainfall. Record tropical heat in May. Record early start to harvest. Superlative summer and harvest weather. Harvest quantity – up. Harvest quality – above average.

For the second year running, we had an abnormally wet winter. From October 2010 to September 2011 there was an over abundant 1650 mm of annual rainfall, just short of last year’s record 1750 mm, nearly 4 times the average, and once again filling our damns to overflowing.

The 2010/2011 vineyard calendar ran 1-2 weeks earlier than normal. Bud-break was spotted 1st of March and flowering in late April. The weather during flowering was mild, assisting in an even pollination.

May was the hottest in Portugal since records began in 1931, with tropical nights and temperatures up to +3º above normal. The abnormal heat mixed with excessive rain, created tropical humid conditions, and posed an enormous challenge for us to fight a constant threat of mildew. Some grapegrowers in the area lost their entire crop. The remainder of the summer growing season was warm, dry, and without any great detrimental heat spikes, which can shut down the vines, and stop grape maturation. With the exception of only one brief but alarming wet interlude in the first days of September, the clement summer weather lasted throughout the harvest months, well into late October.

5th August was a record early harvest start at Cortes de Cima, when the first lot of Gouveio white grapes arrived at the winery, followed by Sauvignon Blanc, Antão Vaz and Verdelho. The red grapes in their turn, had their own record early start on the 16th August with the first batch of Syrah followed by Trincadeira. At the peak, the harvest workforce topped at 75 workers and lasted 10 weeks, finishing on 12 October. The total 2011 Harvest quantity was 1,622 tons up +16% from last year. 1,396 tons red varieties and 226 tons white varieties.

This year for the first time, the largest portion of our white grapes came from our new Alentejan coastal vineyards which we started planting in 2008, near Vila Nova de Milfontes, 3km from the Atlantic Ocean. It’s exciting for us to see the impact that the cooler Alentejan coastal climate has had on these varieties, reflected in the good fruit flavors, acid and freshness of the 2011 whites, and assuring a good future for coming vintages from our coastal vineyards. In the winery, some of our best 2011 whites are Verdelho, Gouveio, Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc, the later which soon will be bottled as Cortes de Cima’s first coastal Sauvignon Blanc single varietal.

Among the reds, 2011 produced some excellent Syrah, Trincadeira, and Petit Verdot, while Aragonez and Touriga Nacional were less outstanding. In general, the reds are intense, fruity, with good acidity, and strong color.

With the hindsight of a Soren Kierkegaard, we can declare Vintage 2011 to have been a very good year, the best vintage since the excellent 2008. Furthermore, as it was an especially good year for Syrah, 2011 will be an ‘Incógnito’ year.

Our Top of the Range Wines from the Exceptional 2008 Vintage

Carrie — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 10:15:13 +0000

Our Cortes de Cima Reserva and our iconic Incógnito are our ‘Top of the Range’ wines, only bottled in exceptional years. Vintage 2008 was just such a year, one of our greatest vintages of the decade, with the growing season of dry, steady warm days and cool nights, followed by perfect harvest weather.

Reserva 2008

Our Reserva 2008 appears after an absence of 3 vintages without bottling a Reserva at Cortes de Cima. Rated with 90 Parker points, it continues in the tradition of our Reservas having always scored over +90 Parker Points. (Past Reservas are – 2004 – 91 points; 2003 – 92 points; 2001 – 91 points; 1998 – 93 points; 1997 – 90 points)

“The top of the range at Cortes de Cima and deservedly so. The wine is finely structured, with a feeling of restrained power. It has all the right elements of red plum, dry, dark tannins and prominent acidity, all in balance.” – 92 – Wine Enthusiast

“It is a lovely wine, seductive and caressing on the palate, graceful, focused and lingering, with reasonably ripe tannins….a wine that slithers over the mid-palate and seems quite enticing, elegant and ethereal.” – 90 ‐ Robert Parker

Winner of 4 Silver Medals, including 1 Best in Class (IWSC UK 2011).

Read the vintage note here.

Incógnito 2008

The mystery name refers to a time when Syrah was not permitted in Alentejo. In 1991, we were the first ones to plant Syrah in the Alentejo, choosing rootstock from southern Rhone clones. Today, our range consists of 3 different 100% Syrah varietals. We culminate at the top, with our reserve quality labeling, the iconic ‘Incógnito’, only bottled in exceptional years, and with all the Hallmarks of a great world class Syrah.

“The 2008 Incognito is Syrah in full flight, gamey and showing a lot of character, and in this vintage, showing rather crisp and focused as well, with moderately ripe tannins. It is caressing on the palate. The wine seems a bit smokey as well. The mid-palate is rather elegant and focused. As Syrah goes, it is a wine that has some varietal character, and you don’t always get that in Portugal. Drink now-2020″ - 89‐ Robert Parker

3 Silver Medals

Read the vintage note here.

Our Latest Launches

Carrie — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:05:09 +0000

Aragonez 2009

Barrel aging: 7 months in French and American Oak. 4.166 bottles (75 cl)

Solid, intense palate with vibrant, juicy fruit, some savoury notes, and a good balancing acidity.

Trincadeira 2009

Barrel aging: 5 months in French Oak. 3,400 bottles (75cl).

Spicy, ripe red berry aromas with a savoury fruit palate showing vanillan notes.

HC Andersen 2009

Barrel aging: 7 months in French oak. 3800 bottles (75cl)

This wine shows intense and complex aromatics, with some balsamic notes. A full, rich and concentrated palate, sweet fruit which is both dense and solid, great balance, length and structure.

Petit Verdot 2009

Barrel aging:14 months in French oak. 3420 bottles (75cl)

An intense and vibrant palate, with lots of youthful fruit and subtle notes of well integrated toasty oak. Very elegant with good texture, firm tannins and balancing acidity to finish.

Courela 2010

45% Aragonez, 45% Syrah, 10% Touriga Nacional No barrel aging. 109.000 bottles (75 cl).

With intense ruby colours and attractive ripe berry character. A fresh and young wine that is ready for immediate drinking.

Syrah 2010

Barrel aging: 8 months in French and American oak. 40.600 bottles (75cl)

Ripe red berry fruit aromas, with hints of raspberry, vanilla and some tobacco notes. A firm, elegant palate, nicely balanced by a dry tannic finish.

Launch of Aragonez 2009, Trincadeira 2009, HC Andersen 2009, Petit Verdot 2009, Courela 2010 and Syrah 2010

Carrie — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:05:24 +0000

Aragonez 2009

Barrel aging: 7 months in French and American Oak. 4.166 bottles (75 cl)

Solid, intense palate with vibrant, juicy fruit, some savoury notes, and a good balancing acidity.

Trincadeira 2009

Barrel aging: 5 months in French Oak. 3,400 bottles (75cl).

Spicy, ripe red berry aromas with a savoury fruit palate showing vanillan notes.

HC Andersen 2009

Barrel aging: 7 months in French oak. 3800 bottles (75cl)

This wine shows intense and complex aromatics, with some balsamic notes. A full, rich and concentrated palate, sweet fruit which is both dense and solid, great balance, length and structure.

Petit Verdot 2009

Barrel aging:14 months in French oak. 3420 bottles (75cl)

An intense and vibrant palate, with lots of youthful fruit and subtle notes of well integrated toasty oak. Very elegant with good texture, firm tannins and balancing acidity to finish.

Courela 2010

45% Aragonez, 45% Syrah, 10% Touriga Nacional No barrel aging. 109.000 bottles(75cl).

With intense ruby colours and attractive ripe berry character. A fresh and young wine that is ready for immediate drinking.

Syrah 2010

Barrel aging: 8 months in French and American oak. 40.600 bottles (75cl)

Ripe red berry fruit aromas, with hints of raspberry, vanilla and some tobacco notes. A firm, elegant palate, nicely balanced by a dry tannic finish.

Vinhos de Portugal 2012

Carrie — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:26:56 +0000

João Paulo Martins’s ‘Vinhos de Portugal 2011‘ is now out. We are proud to be included in this year’s list of the ‘Reds for Special Moments’:

2008 Cortes de Cima Reserva

2008 Casa de Santa Vitória Touriga Nacional Reserva

2008 Pêra Grave Reserva

2007 C M (CARM)

2007 Vallegre Reserva Especial

2009 Morgadio da Calçada Reserva

2009 Churchill Grande Reserva

2009 Duas Quintas Reserva

2009 Duorum Reserva Vinhas Velhas

2009 Batuta

2009 Qta. de Foz de Arouce Vinhas Velhas de Santa Maria

2008 Domini Plus

2008 Quinta da Gaivosa

PORTUGAL – An Emphasis on the Indigenous

Carrie — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:44:59 +0000

“In recent years, the quality of Portugal’s table wines has taken a quantum leap forward. Yet they remain among the least understood wines of Western Europe, tucked away- when they are present at all-in the nether regions of encyclopedic wine lists, which habitually feature dozens of the Ports and Madeiras that made Portugal famous as a wine-producing country.“- Joe Czerwinski, Wine Enthusiast Buying Guide, August 2011.

92 - Cortes de Cima 2008 Reserva

The top of the range at Cortes de Cima and deservedly so. The wine is finely structured, with a feeling of restrained power. It has all the right elements of red plum, dry, dark tannins and prominent acidity, all in balance. — Roger Voss

91 - Cortes de Cima 2008 Touriga Nacional

Such a stylish wine, with its elegant perfumed fruit, fine tannins, acidity, blackberry flavors and a firm structure. This is a wine that could age, although it is certainly ready to drink. — R.V.

90 - Cortes de Cima 2009

An impressive wine, this estate wine of Cortes de Cima shows dusty tannins in a firm, ageworthy structure. The berry fruits are solid, concentrated, while always balanced. Age for 3–4 years. — R.V.

89 - Cortes de Cima 2008 Aragonez

A ripe, smoky wood- and black fruit-driven wine. It has richness with structure, a smooth texture and just the right level of acidity. A delicious wine, ready to drink now. — R.V.

89 - Cortes de Cima 2007 Aragonez

Always an elegant wine, the Aragonez shows its beautiful smooth fruit, flavors of blueberries with leathery tannins and fine acidity. With its structure it could age, but there’s no need to wait. — R.V.

88 - Cortes de Cima 2009 Syrah

A wine that revels in the open, juicy, dark fruits, the sweet tannins and its perfumed character. Soft black cherry jam goes with attractive acidity and a final burst of dark tannins. — R.V.

87 - Cortes de Cima 2008 Trincadeira

A ripe, lively wine that manages to restrain its generosity with smoky tannins, great blackberry fruits and balancing acidity. Ready to drink now. — R.V.

86 - Cortes de Cima 2010 Chaminé Red

A great value, this young fruit wine just bursts with fresh red berry fruits and bright acidity. The tannins are soft, giving a wine that is deliciously ready to drink. — R.V.

86 - Cortes de Cima 2010 Chaminé White

A blend of four grapes, including Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier, the white Chaminé has a full feel to it. An open oily texture also preserves herbaceous crispness and a final burst of acidity. — R.V.

Harvest 2011 is looking good!

Carrie — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:14:33 +0000

5th August was a record early harvest start at Cortes de Cima, with the first lot of Gouveio grapes arriving at the winery. Now 2 weeks on, we have picked batches of most of our other white wine varieties -Verdelho, Viognier, Antao Vaz, Alvarinho and Sauvignon Blanc.

This year for the first time, the largest portion of our white grapes come from our new Alentejan coastal vineyards which we started planting in 2008, near Vila Nova de Milfontes, 4km from the Atlantic Ocean. It’s exciting for us to see the impact that the cooler Alentejan coastal climate has had on these white varieties. It is easy to see the coastal climate reflected in the good flavors, acid and freshness of the white juices now fermenting away in the winery.

The 2011 summer growing season has been warm, but luckily without any great heat spikes, which can shut down the vines, and stop grape maturation. If this moderate, warm weather continues for the next weeks, 2011 vintage could turn out to be an excellent one! Quantity as well as quality looks to be better than recent vintages.

For our red grapes, we are still awaiting further aromatic and phenolic ripeness before we start to harvest. We predict the red grape harvest to start by end of August, or more or less at the same time as during previous years.

Our winery crew are freshly back from their long summer breaks with revitalized energy, doubled in numbers with the temporary addition of winery interns in anticipation of the long, back-breaking shifts associated with vintage. While they are eagerly awaiting for the red grapes to be picked and arrive at the winery, there is still plenty of preparation to be done in the winery, and lots of tanks to be cleaned!

Danish Opera in the Alentejo

Carrie — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 14:05:17 +0000

Danish opera could once again be heard echoing in the vineyards of Alentejo. For the ninth consecutive year, we staged our Annual Cortes de Cima Summer Vineyard Concert. Acclaimed artists from the Royal Copenhagen Opera Ulla Kudsk Jensen (Mezzo Soprano), Hans Laewetz (Baritone) and Jacob Beck (piano) performed well known arias and duets against a backdrop of our verdant summer vineyard. During the intermission, there was a wine-tasting featuring the full range of our single vineyard varietals, followed by a sumptuous post-concert Gala Buffet Dinner prepared by Chef Bjarne Otto. You can still enjoy the music on YouTube and see the photos on Flickr!