Quinta da Romeira, `Prova Régia` Bucelas Arinto
Vintage: 2023
| Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | QR101B23 | 6 x 75 | Agglomerated Cork | Available |
Producer
Quinta da Romeira has been producing wines since 1703 and is one of the most prestigious estates in Bucelas, Portugal’s only exclusively white wine appellation. They are believed to have the largest Arinto vineyard in the world, with 75 hectares of vineyard dedicated almost exclusively to the grape, planted on clay-limestone soils. The property was bought by the Guedes family in 2018, who have invested heavily in the estate, improving the viticulture and, as of 2023, putting the talented Luís Cabral de Almeida (of Herdade do Peso fame) in charge of winemaking.
Quinta da Romeira has a remarkable history. During the Peninsula Wars, the Duke of Wellington used the estate as his headquarters, developed a taste for their wines and brought them home to London as an offering to King George IV. They soon gained a following in Britain, with celebrity fans including Charles Dickens and Lord Byron.
The ‘Prova Régia’ is a nod to this royal endorsement, with the name translating as ‘royal approval’. Made from 100% Arinto fermented in stainless steel and unoaked, this is a vibrant wine boasting precise aromas of ripe lemon, green apple and a marked minerality. Four months of lees stirring add texture to the palate and a crisp acidity carries the bright fruit flavours through to a clean finish.
The ‘Morgado de Santa Catherina’ is a partially barrel-fermented 100% Arinto. Aged for nine months in French oak barrels, 40% of which are new, with regular bâtonnage, it marries delicious brioche aromas with the characteristic zesty fruit of the Arinto.
The ‘Espumante Bruto’ is a traditional-method sparkling, which is again made from 100% Arinto. The natural linear acidity of this prized, indigenous variety lends itself particularly well to sparkling wine production. After secondary fermentation in bottle, the wine is aged on its lees for nine months, gaining remarkable biscuity complexity. The 2021 vintage was recently named the Best Portuguese Sparkling Wine of the Year at the Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships 2023.
Vineyards
Located 15 miles north-east of Lisbon, the historic Bucelas appellation is protected from the worst of the Atlantic weather systems by hills to the west and benefits from the moderating influence of the wide estuary of the Tagus river to the east. This favourable mesoclimate, combined with clay-limestone soils on rolling hills, provides the perfect growing environment for Portugal’s Arinto grape variety to ripen to perfection - accumulating great intensity of flavour whilst retaining a crisp natural acidity. With 75 hectares planted mainly with Arinto, Quinta da Romeira is purported to be the largest Arinto vineyard in the world. Microzoning studies have identified 22 different soil types and there is a huge range of different exposures and altitudes on the estate.
Vintage
Luís Cabral de Almeida commented on the “excellent wines” of the 2023 Bucelas vintage (his first at Quinta da Romeira), describing the “delicious fruit” as showing the region’s “natural acidity: truly lively and balanced”. Production levels were higher compared to the dry 2022 vintage. Soils were well hydrated from the winter rains which, coupled with mild spring temperatures, allowed the vines to develop healthily. Meticulous work in the vineyards was carried out to keep diseases and pests at bay, as well as manage vegetation cover. Some rainfall in the summer helped the grapes to reach optimum levels of ripeness a little earlier than usual, with harvest beginning on 22nd August and concluding on 25th September.
Vinification
Upon arrival at the Quinta da Romeira winery, the grapes were cooled, carefully destemmed, and gently pressed to preserve the delicate aromatics. Alcoholic fermentation was carried out in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures of 14-16°C. The wine was then aged on it's lees for four months prior to bottling.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
Lemon yellow in colour. On the nose, this wine boasts expressive notes of ripe lemon and green apple with subtle jasmine nuances and a marked minerality. On the palate, it is well balanced with a broad texture from the lees ageing and a crisp acidity that carries the precise and elegant flavours onto the refreshing finish.
Alcohol (ABV)
13%
Acidity
5.2 g/l
Residual Sugar
2 g/l
pH
3.2
Other wines from this producer
Producer | Wine | Product Code | Features | Style | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinta da Romeira | `Morgado de Santa Catherina` Bucelas Arinto | QR102 | W | Factsheet | |
| Espumante Bruto | QR103 | SpW | Factsheet |