Quinta da Romeira, `Morgado de Santa Catherina` Bucelas Arinto
Vintage: 2022
| Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | QR102B22 | 6 x 75 | Natural 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.
Vintage
The 2022 vintage in Bucelas was characterised by hot and dry conditions and yields were down in comparison to the previous year. The vintage began with a drier than average winter, followed by good weather in the spring which provided perfect conditions for budburst, flowering and fruit set. Though the summer was hotter and drier than usual, sea breezes provided some relief from the heat of the days. However, the vines did shut down briefly for a period at the end of the summer due to the drought conditions. Harvest at Quinta da Romeira began on 5th September and ended on 1st October. Diogo Sepúlveda was delighted with the quality of the grapes harvested with excellent natural acidity and remarkable freshness.
Vinification
Grapes were sourced from plots in south-facing vineyards at Quinta da Romeira. Harvested manually with total destemming and soft-crushing carried out at low temperatures. Following fermentation, cold static decanting took place in stainless steel tanks and casks of French oak. The wine was aged for nine months in 225-litre, 500-litre, 1000-litre and 2000-litre French oak casks, which promote the wine's integration with the wood due to lees stirring. After this period, the final blend was made, bottled and aged in the bottle until consumption.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
Bright lemon in colour with green hints. On the nose, intense notes of stone fruit, ripe lemon and candied orange peel are married with subtle floral notes and toasty nuances from the oak ageing. The palate is broad and textured, balanced by a refreshing acidity that carries the intense flavours onto a long, supple finish.
Alcohol (ABV)
13.5%
Acidity
6 g/l
Residual Sugar
1 g/l
pH
3.1
Other wines from this producer
Producer | Wine | Product Code | Features | Style | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinta da Romeira | `Prova Régia` Bucelas Arinto | QR101 | W | Factsheet | |
| Espumante Bruto | QR103 | SpW | Factsheet |