Xi-Coração reserva branco 2013

Xi-Coração reserva branco 2013

Our first white vintage under our own label.

XI~CORAÇÃO 2013 Branco is a blend of :

♥ 40% Viosinho

♥ 40% Gouveio

♥ 20% Malvasia Fina

The 2013 Vintage

 Spring 2013 was dry but cold which delayed bud bloom and the growing season. Summer 2013 was very dry, without rainfall from early May to early September. Luckily some rain occurred mid and end of September, so grapes achieved maturity slowly. The harvest was a little late for the 2013 vintage, and started September 19th until mid October for the later grapes.

Vinification

The three native grape varieties (Viosinho, Gouveio and Malvasia Fina) were picked and vinified together. Two batches were picked ten days apart. The first batch was harvested slightly underripe, to retain good acidity and freshness of the fruit aromas. The second batch was picked a little overripe for a complex nose of dry fruit, and a more rounded palate.

After a light pneumatic pressing with skin contact enzyme, the must was cold-settled for 24 hours. Then it was racked from the lees and the alcoholic fermentation started at carefully-controlled low temperature (16-18 °C), according to the fermentation stage. After 3 weeks of fermentation, the wine was once more racked from the lees. Bâtonnage was initiated, which consisted in stirring the fine lees on the bottom of the tank to give more roundness, sweetness and fattiness to the wine. A molecule named mannoprotein from the yeast autolysis integrated the lees, and was stirred into the wine. This was done once weekly for the first month, less frequently during aging. 30% of the volume was aged six months in wood (French oak), the rest was aged in a stainless steel tank. A light fining and filtering was done before bottling.

The production of XI~CORAÇÃO 2013 Branco is 4000 bottles (75 cl), making it an exclusive wine.

Analysis

♥ Alcohol: 14.56% vol.

♥ Total acidity: 4.6 g/L (tartaric acid)

♥ pH: 3.27

♥ Residual sugar: 0.6 g/L

♥ Volatile acidity: 0.3 g/L (acetic acid)

♥ Free SO2: 31 mg/L (SO2)

♥ Total SO2: 100 mg/L (SO2)

Tasting Notes

Colour: XI~CORAÇÃO 2013 Branco has a bright light-gold colour

Nose: The nose is composed of complex citrus, floral and oaky aromas with a hint of minerality.

Taste: The palate has an elegant, creamy texture from six months of wood aging with bâtonnage balanced by a long, crispy finish with hints of white-fleshed fruit at the end.

Serving Suggestion

This white wine can be drunk immediately, but cellaring is advised to develop the complexity to its full potential. A temperature of around 12-13 °C (20 min out from the fridge) is recommended to enjoy the potential of this wood-aged wine. Decanting is advised, this wine deserves to breathe.

Pairings

♥ Seafood and bouillabaisse.

♥ Portuguese fish specialties, a thousand ways to cook bacalhau.

♥ Chicken and poultry with cream sauces.

♥ Goat cheese, buttery ewe cheese such as Queijo da Serra.

Disponível na Traga-Mundos – livros e vinhos, coisas e loisas do Douro em Vila Real... | Traga-Mundos – lhibros i binos, cousas i lhoisas de l Douro an Bila Rial...

[disponível também Xi-Coração reserva tinto 2012]