75cl
Macanita 'Quanto + Arinto + Gosto de ti' Branco 2018
Vendor code : 428
Macanita is one of the most interesting wineries in the Douro. They offer a class of wines, especially whites, that could be described as 'fruitless.' For example, Branco As Olgas is a wine with no pronounced aromas or fruit notes. Instead, it presents a stony and earthy profile, with an intellectual and structure-oriented approach. This style of wine is best suited for consumption with food. All wines are produced in very limited volumes (less than 1,000 bottles each), lending them an experimental character. This is winemaking at its highest level of authenticity.
The 2018 'Quanto + Arinto + Gosto de ti' Branco, grown at 550 meters above sea level, is a focused, fresh, and persistent wine with good depth. It was aged for 18 months in new French oak barrels. The influence of the oak is only now beginning to emerge in the Arinto's flavor, yet the grape characteristics still dominate the woody notes. The aroma exhibits mineral and citrus tones, including grapefruit and lime. The flavor is marked by bright acidity. It is recommended to be enjoyed between 2020 and 2030.
Arinto is a symbol of purity, grit, and tension. It is believed that the origin of this grape lies down south, where Wellington halted Napoleon, thereby making this grape famous within the English Empire. Today, it is recognized as one of the most widespread and esteemed grape varieties in Portugal, serving as the backbone profile in most regions. This particular Arinto from the Douro, harvested at 550m, represents the grape in its most extreme form. Born with mountain character and boldness, it is given time to mature, embodying a very pure expression of Arinto. The 2018 'Quanto + Arinto + Gosto de ti' Branco from Macanita undergoes careful vinification: grapes are harvested by hand, transported in 18Kg boxes, directly pressed from whole bunches, cold decanted, and fermented in barrels with bâtonnage. It ages for 18 months on fine lees in new French oak barrels, followed by 7 months in the bottle before its release in March 2020. Only 2,000 bottles were produced.
Reviews from critics
90/100
1 points
95-100
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90-94
1
85-89
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80-84
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75-79
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0-74
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Wine Advocate
Mark Squires:"The 2018 Quanto Mais Arinto Mais Gosto de Ti (roughly, "As much as you are Arinto, I love you more") is very dry (less than half a gram of residual sugar) and comes in at 13.5% alcohol. It was aged for 18 months in new French oak. The oak affects the Arinto just now, but the grape certainly rises above the wood. The longer it airs out, the less I paid attention to the wood, a good sign. Focused, fresh and persistent, this is lovely, with reasonable mid-palate depth and length on the finish. I'm not convinced it is quite as good as the last couple of vintages, though. It should still age well, and it might have a chance to improve. Needless to say, while the wine is very nice, the price is not quite as friendly. As good as this is, I would have to point out for bargain hunters that there are several wines here in this group that are far less expensive and about as good. There were 2,000 bottles produced from 18-year-old vines at 550 meters".