75cl
Arinto dos Açores White 2018 Azores Wine Company
Vendor code : 422
Antonio Maçanita is considered one of Portugal's most dynamic young winemakers. He produces wines from the Azores to the Alentejo, each reflecting the essence of the regional terroir and traditions. Antonio was named the 2018 Winemaker of the Year by Revista de Vinhos magazine and was awarded the 2018 Singularity Award by Revista Grandes Escolhas. This talented winemaker has played a crucial role in promoting Azorean wine and saving the nearly extinct varietal, Terrantez do Pico.
Color
White
Region
Azores
Fortress
12.5%
Country
Portugal
Grape
Arinto
Vintage
2018
Producer
Azores Wine Company
The 2018 Arinto dos Açores is a terroir wine with half a gram of residual sugar and an alcohol content of 12.5%. The wine has high acidity that makes it come alive on the tongue. It is bright and slightly spicy. This savory nuance on the finish makes it lively and interesting. There are citrus and lemon notes in the aroma, and salt, grapefruit, and green apple in the flavor. This wine is delicious on many fronts—a fine job by the winemaker. It is recommended to drink from 2019 to 2029. Wine Advocate rated the wine at 92 points.
Azores Wine Company is one of the most famous projects in Portugal. The company essentially put Azores wines on the modern map. Immediately after entering the market, their wines won many awards. The grapes they produce became the most expensive in Portugal (understandably so, given the difficult growing conditions and high quality), on par with grapes from Champagne, Bordeaux, and Napa Valley. That's why the team at Azores Wine Company couldn't just build any winery; it had to be special. For research and brainstorming, the owners and architects traveled to the Loire Valley, home to countless small vineyards, where the dominant grape varieties have a genetic link to the Azores. Unlike French wineries, the Azores Wine Company site overlooks the ocean, the volcanic Mount Pico of the same name, and nearby islands. Because the site is in a UNESCO-protected area and subject to strict measures, and because everyone involved in the project wanted it to have minimal impact on the landscape, the team settled on a square structure clad in stone from the same site. This was to be an extension of the stone fences protecting the vineyards. The investment in the winery, which also aims to develop Pico as a wine tourism destination, amounted to 3 million euros. The style of the wines is mineral, salty, well-balanced, and unlike anything else. If you need a score, Wine Advocate rated many of them over 90 points, and Vinha Centénaria 2018 rated at 95 points. We'll be perfectly honest and say that Azores Wine Company wines are among the favorites of the Lambier Wines team!
Reviews from critics
92/100
1 points
95-100
0
90-94
1
85-89
0
80-84
0
75-79
0
0-74
0
Wine Advocate
Mark Squires:"The 2018 Arinto dos Açores is unoaked, bone dry (half a gram of residual sugar) and comes in at 12.5% alcohol. This has big acidity, making it jump to life on the tongue. It's bright and a little spicy. That zippy nuance on the finish makes it lively and interesting. Then, there is the grip and length on the finish as well. This is lip-smacking good on many fronts, a fine effort in the brand. It is also one that seems poised to age well. It evolved beautifully in the glass and fleshed out with air and warmth. I would still pick the 2015 (not here this issue) as my sentimental best of the brand so far, but this could develop into it with a year of age. It is a fine contender. It does need to prove it can age, though. That is still an open question to some extent. There were 14,970 bottles produced".