Vineyard and winemaking
Reserva Branco brings together Antão Vaz, Arinto and Alvarinho from Herdade Aldeia de Cima's vineyards in the Serra do Mendro. The plots rise from roughly 289 to 380 metres above sea level across limestone, schist and other rocky soils, where elevation and Atlantic influence temper the Alentejo sun and preserve natural acidity.
The 2020 wine was fermented on its fine lees in French oak and matured for between nine and 12 months in 3,000-litre French oak vats. The scale of the vessels supports texture and slow development while keeping the oak measured and allowing the blend's citrus, stone-fruit and floral character to remain clear.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Bright straw gold with pale green reflections and excellent clarity.
Nose
Lemon zest, white peach and yellow apple lead into acacia blossom, fresh almond and a restrained touch of toast. With air, a faint herbal and saline quality adds definition.
Palate
Textured yet poised, with ripe orchard fruit and a gentle creaminess balanced by lively citrus acidity. Antão Vaz supplies breadth, Arinto gives the wine its linear freshness, and Alvarinho contributes aromatic lift. The finish is persistent, lightly savoury and clean, with a subtle nutty accent.
Food pairing
Pair with roast cod and parsley sauce, chicken with lemon and tarragon, pork tenderloin with apple, or roast pumpkin with sage and toasted seeds. Its combination of body and freshness also works well with creamy fish pie, provided the wine is not served too cold.
Background story
Herdade Aldeia de Cima is the Amorim family's estate near Santana in Alentejo, set amid cork and holm oak forest, ancient olive trees and vineyards on the Serra do Mendro. LuÃsa Amorim and Francisco Rêgo have built the wine project around organic cultivation, biodiversity and the detailed mapping of its contrasting parcels.
Reserva Branco captures the meeting point between Alentejo ripeness and the freshness made possible by altitude. Its three-variety blend is shaped through large-format oak rather than obvious barrel flavour, giving the 2020 enough substance for the table while preserving the clarity and mineral tension that distinguish the estate's upland vineyards.
