Cortes de Cima Reserva 2003

Producer description

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Vintage 2003: BUD BREAK was 6th March, accompanied by hot and dry Carnival weather. Flowering was first observed in the vineyard on May 11th. The heat was a delaying factor in the phenolic maturity of the grapes. Vindima (harvest) started 26th August under a slow tempo, as Hans carefully selected only the ripest areas in each field for harvest, leaving the rest for further maturing. In contrast to last year’s freak September rains, this year’s harvest was under the usual clement Alentejan skies, with only a single day of rain recorded. Last day of harvest was the 5th of October. Baumé averaged around 14,5. Vinification: Made exclusively from selected grapes hand picked at optimum maturity from chosen sites in our own vineyards. Fermented without stems under temperature control, frequent delestage, followed by extended skin maceration to enhance varietal fruit characters, and to provide tannin structure and balance. Aged for 12 months in new American oak (20%) and new French oak (80%) barrels, and then blended to give balanced varietal fruit and oak components. Bottled, unfined and filtered in June 2005. Our Winemaker's Comments: The wine shows a heady aroma of ripe plum and berry fruits with toasty oak and spicy vanillin complexity. The palate is big, soft and round, some chocolate, ripe tannins, and well integrated, spicy oak. This is a beautifully balanced wine with seamless layers of fruit and oak on richly textured palate which is supported by a fine tannic structure. Being well balanced and integrated at an early stage, it is typical of the ripe 2003 harvest, therefore it may be drunk young, but will continue to improve with time in the bottle over the next 7 years.   (Hide info)

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