Community Tasting Note

forceberry wrote:

Monday, April 22, 2024 - 100% Maria Gomes (aka. Fernão Pires) from a low-yielding vineyard that is harvested early in order to produce a lighter wine with higher levels of acidity. Fermented spontaneously, aged for 11-12 months in old French oak barrels and bottled unfined and unfiltered, right before the wines of the new harvest are put into barrels. Named after Fausto, the grandfather of Mário Sérgio who runs the winery now. 13% alcohol.

Pale lemon-yellow color. Nuanced and quite attractive nose with layered aromas of fresh peach, some creamy oak, light floral notes of orange blossom, a little bit of savory spice and a sweeter hint of more tropical fruits. The wine feels rich, textural and quite full-bodied on the palate with layered flavors of sweet Golden Delicious apple, some honeyed tones, a little bit of savory wood spice, light waxy nuances, a hint of apple peel bitterness and a touch of creamy oak. The acidity - surprisingly high for a Maria Gomes - lends great sense of freshness and structure to the wine. The finish is ripe, broad and textural with a long, layered aftertaste of ripe apples, some waxy tones, a little bit of creamy oak, light tropical fruit nuances, a hint of savory wood spice and a touch of apple peel bitterness.

A very lovely, nuanced and harmonious white that manages to combine sense of substance with great freshness - something that isn't always guaranteed with varietal Maria Gomes wines! The oak aging lends lovely sense of creaminess and subtly woody overtones without adding any overt oak aromatics to muddle the fresh-yet-slightly tropical fruit profile. Although the wine is still very youthful, it is eminently drinkable right now. However, I feel this is a wine that could benefit from a few years of additional aging. Good value at 21€.

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