Vinha do Contador Grande Juri Blanco 2015

The 2015 Branco Vinha do Contador Grande Júri Nobre (Paço dos Cunhas) is 70% Encruzado with 20% Malvasia Fina and the rest Cerceal Branco, all aged for 12 months in 50% new French oak. It comes in at 13.7% alcohol. This is a "best barrels" selection, with the 25 best barrels selected from a group of 100. This is in a beautiful place today, balanced and sturdy, showing fine concentration and a perfect table-wine demeanor. It handles the oak beautifully at this point in its life. It's not the most energetic white, especially at age six, but in its food-wine style it projects plenty of freshness while coating the palate well. This should hold well throughout the decade, more or less, maybe more. Whether it matches its price point is quite another question, but it certainly is a very fine blend.

 Grilled pineapple, burnt lemon, cedar, hay and clove on the nose. Medium-to full-bodied with tangy acidity and a spicy, toasty palate. Excellent intensity and energy. Ambitious style. Oaky and flamboyant. Cerceal branco, encruzado and malvasia fina. Drink or hold.