Aphros Melissae DOC 2021

A white wine that finds its depth without relying on weight. The nose is complex and multi-layered, never sweet, but concentrated and distinctive. The palate stays transparent, refreshing and full of character.

The Loureiro vines grow in the Lima sub-region of Vinho Verde, on a south-facing site. Vasco Croft, a former architect, has run the family estate Casal do Paço biodynamically since 2003 and is regarded as a pioneer of biodynamics in Portugal. Around the 16th-century granite house lie vineyards, chestnut groves and old oaks, with sheep and mountain horses grazing between the vine rows. The vines are treated exclusively with plant extracts.

A single-varietal wine from the indigenous Loureiro grape, harvested on 21 September 2021. After partial destemming, the must ferments in stainless steel tank, after which the wine ages for three months on the lees in a concrete egg. 11.0% ABV is balanced by less than 1.5 g/l sugar.

A compact, finely woven structure with gentle phenolics that coat the palate without showing bitterness or hardness. The impression is juicy, cool and clear as mountain water, carried by subtle fruit and spice. Retronasally, fennel pollen, white and yellow blossom and pale stone fruit continue impressively, alongside a stony coolness.

In the cellar, Croft works with wild yeasts, without fining or filtration, with a maximum of 25 milligrams of sulphur per litre at bottling. The timing of harvest, racking and bottling also follows the astronomical calendar.