Arribas Wine Company Saroto Branco 2021 Tras os Montes

In the far northeast corner of Portugal lies a remote and rugged winemaking region called Tras os Montes, literally Ùbehind the mountainsÎ. It experiences long cold winters and very hot summers with cool nights, perfect for making punchy wines that maintain their freshness. This is an old-vine field blend of indigenous grape varieties that are uniquely suited to the region's climate, such as Verdelho, Malvasia, Posto Branco and Bastardo Branco to name a few. In their cellar that used to be a garage, Arribas Wine Company practice the definition of hands-off winemaking with little more than a vertical basket press and some oak barrels. This skin-contact white was barrel-fermented with indigenous yeasts for seven months. It's savoury with an intensely herbal tang, think rosemary, orange peel, white pepper and jasmine, with gentle, food-friendly tannins.