Cortes de Cima

History

Our flagship wine made from selected batches. 12 months barrel ageing. Full bodied blend of Aragonez, Syrah and other Portuguese varieties. Rich intense fruit balanced with ripe tannins. Cellaring 3-5 years. Filtered, unfined.

Current Vintage: 2008

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Click here for PDFs of past vintages: 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

Vintage 2008

Winter and spring were cold and wet, resulting in delayed budbreak, uneven pollination, fewer bunches and smaller berries, in especially the Aragonez and Touriga Nacional. Summer was kick started with a mini-hot spell in June, but followed by 2 steady months of dry, warm days and cool nights, optimal growing conditions.

With the exception of a short rainy spell which quickly passed, the harvest weather was the finest in memory, of dry, warm sunny days, affording us the luxury of fine tuning the harvest tempo according to the ripeness of a particular grape variety, a particular vineyard parcel, and even a particular row of vines.

Vinification

Made exclusively from selected grapes hand picked at optimum maturity from our own vineyards. Fermented without stems under temperature control, frequent delestage, followed by extended skin maceration to enhance varietal fruit characters, and to provide tannin structure and balance. Aged for 12 months in French (80%), American (20%) oak barrels, and then blended to give balanced varietal fruit and oak components. Bottled, unfined and filtered in January 2010.

Tasting Notes

This wine shows spicy, fruit on a full, rich palate, elegant with a long finish. Fresh and beautifully balanced, it will drink well on release but with structure and fruit intensity.

Appellation: Vinho Regional Alentejano

Varieties: 52% Aragonez (Tempranillo), 39% Syrah, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Touriga Nacional, 2% Petit Verdot

Total Acids: 5.5

Final pH: 3.66

Residual Sugars: 3.2

Alcohol: 14%

Barrel Ageing:12 months in FO (80%) and AO (20%)

Grown, produced and bottled at the family estate

Total production: 138.900 bottles 75 cl, 620 bottles 1.5 l

Bottled unfined and filtered in January 2010

Release date: July 2010

Unique Code: AVIN6918140032383 [?]

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Awards

Commended – International Wine Challenge – London 2010

Bronze Medal – Intl Wine & Spirit Competition – UK 2010

Ratings

88 – WE 05/2010

Reviews