quicksearch
Anthony Gismondi on Wine
Luis Seabra Vinhos Xisto Cru Brancotext
93POINTS
17¼/20

Luis Seabra Vinhos Xisto Cru Branco 2016

Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalAfter a successful decade as winemaker at Niepoort, Luis Seabra decided to break out on his own, leaving his own name on the wines of Douro. From sustainably farmed vineyards planted from 1920-1933 on mica schists at 650-700m, this is a blend of 70 percent rabigato, balanced out with codega, gouveio, viosinho, and dozelino branco. After a native ferment in used tonneaux where this spent nine months on the lees, this was moved to old French barrels for a year without battonage or MLF. Smoked stones are potent and driving, with a good pillow of lees and grip around the sides to tuck it all in. This savoury white is not about the fruit, but rather all about the soils. So structural, with incredibly flirty licks, fine salts and kisses of brown butter that linger on the finish. There's an effortless lift that gives this effortless drinkability now, while intensity to last time in the cellar also. Douro whites are exciting, and this is one of the forerunners.Tasted: 10 January 2019Tasted by: Treve RingPrices:
ON$57.95750mlconsignment
BC$58.00750mlprivate wine shops
Producer: Luis Seabra VinhosDistributors: Le Sommelier Inc.
Premium Portugal Wines
Blend: Rabigato - Codega - Gouveio - Viosinho Dozelino BrancoCSPC: 217161UPC: 5600790052026