2019 Cartuxa, Pera Manca Branco, Alentejo, 6x750ml

2019 Cartuxa, Pera Manca Branco, Alentejo, 6x750ml

Arinto, Antão Vaz, oldest mass-selection plots (c 40 years old) that were the result of research in the 70s and 80s. 75% fermented in French oak (one-third new), the rest (mainly Arinto) in tank. 12–14 months on lees, with stirring, then 6–12 months in bottle before release.

Alcohol: 13.5%

Availability: 4 weeks

Case size: 6 / Bottle size: 750ml

Duty Status
From £210.00

Critics Score: 17

Publication: Julia Hardin MW, janciosrobinson.com

Drinking Dates: 2022-2030

Quite different in aroma compared with the 2020 – it has all that cedary citrus but also a slightly nutty/toasty character. Not hugely concentrated on the mid palate but it is starting to show real complexity of fruit and oak. Deliciously fresh and intense on the long finish.
With over 400 years of history, the prestigious Cartuxa winery is located in the Evora sub-region of the Alentejo, producing fine wines from indigenous varieties right in the heart of Portugal.

Originally, Cartuxa was a Carthusian monastery but was privately owned by the Eugénio de Almeida family from 1871. The last member of the family left the property to the charitable foundation he established and this continues to support social and cultural organisations across the region.

The wines of Cartuxa have long been legendary within Portugal and Pêra-Manca was aboard Pedro Álvares Cabral's ship when he discovered Brazil in 1500.

In the 1870s, the wines gathered international recognition when the reds won gold medals in Bordeaux but in 1920, post-phyloxerra, production ceased and was only revived in 1990. Now, having re-established it's reputation, Cartuxa's Pêra-Manca is to Alentejo what Casa Ferreirinha's Barca Velha is to Douro. Just like Barca Velha, Pêra-Manca is only produced in exceptional vintages (1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 , 2013, 2014 and now 2015).

I tasted a fascinating mini-vertical back to 2005 recently and was struck by the wine's remarkable capacity to age. 
It truly is world-class stuff but very little of the small production escapes Portugal and Brazil's enthusiastic markets. We have just a handful of cases available for the current releases of both red and white.