Arribas Wine Company - 2023 - Belfo Branco

A white wine from the Trás-os-Montes region, produced in Bemposta, Mogadouro, from a very old parcel in Peredo de Bemposta. The vineyard, with over 70 years old vines, is situated at 600 to 700 meters, featuring granite and limestone soil composition. The climate is Mediterranean with an Atlantic influence. The company practices farming in transition to organic, highlighting its commitment to sustainable viticulture. The name "Belfo" is a word for someone who speaks with their mouth full, and this wine aims to express that metaphor in a liquid form. For its 2023 vintage, Arribas Wine Company partnered with Projeto Água, led by Dr. Antonio Guillén, to study the Douro River's water quality by analyzing its microfauna and microflora.

The grapes for Belfo Branco were hand-picked on September 7 and transported in 20 kg cases to the cellar. There, they were whole-bunch foot-trodden. After a short 12 hours of skin contact, the grapes were pressed, and the juice was racked to used French oak barrels. Both alcoholic and malolactic fermentations finished in these barrels. The wine aged in the barrels for 12 months before being racked to a stainless steel tank for six months of aging. The final product is a natural wine, unfined and unfiltered, which may present sedimentation over time.

While specific tasting notes are not provided, the wine's character directly results from its unique viticulture and winemaking. The granite and limestone soils contribute to a wine with high minerality and vibrant acidity. The brief skin contact and aging in used French oak barrels will give the wine a textural depth and complexity without dominating the fruit's expression. The aging process on its lees and the natural fermentation also contribute to the wine's full-bodied and authentic character.