From sustainably farmed vineyards planted from 1920-1933 at 650-700m, this is a blend of 70 percent Rabigato, balanced out with Codega, Gouveio, Viosinho, and Dozelino Branco. According to Seabra, Rabigato is a fairly neutral grape, so is a natural terroir-transmitter. Minerality rings from the start, with flinty broken stones, a touch of light smoked stone, meadow herbs, subtle dried quince, light anise and a pad of earthy lees to a flake salt and flint finish. Fantastic structure, finesse, and nonchalance, this is a joy to drink now and in future.
'The 2022 Xisto Cru Branco was produced with grapes from an old vineyard he works at 750 meters above sea level with 70% Rabigato and the rest Códega, Gouveio and Donzelinho Branco. The juice from the pressing of destemmed and crushed grapes fermented in used 228-liter barrels, where it matured for one year and then six months in stainless steel. It has a moderate 13.5% alcohol, which is remarkable for a very warm and dry year, keeping the poise and balance, reflected by a pH of 3.21. It is clean and precise, pretty much in the house style, with subtle aromas of pollen and aromatic herbs, faintly Mediterranean. It has a fine-boned and elegant palate with cleanliness, precision and great balance and a dry, stony and serious finish. This is a very serious white that should develop nicely in bottle. ' Luis Gutierrez Wine Advocate
94/100 Wine Advocate
Luis works organically
