Caves Transmontanas, Vértice Gouveio Brut
A remarkable wine that spent a full 84 months – seven years – on the lees. It is made by the traditional method from the Gouveio variety, one of the traditional grapes of the Alto Douro’s cool upper slopes. It’s a very refined wine, the delicate fruit profile salty and lemony, but with a tiny floral touch and the long ageing on the yeast adding hints of toast. Crisp and bright on the palate, there’s a hint of wheat and toast again, but that lovely dry lemon and orange rind fruitiness is delightful, a very modest 5g/l dosage giving this plenty of bite and raciness, yet it is not at all tart, the long ageing on the lees seeing to that, as well as part of the juice being barrel fermented, to give a certain weight and luxurious richness. Delicious and a huge bargain at its £21.95 price.
Score:92
