Antonio Madeira Vinhas Velhas Branco 2023

Antonio Madeira Vinhas Velhas Branco 2023

Antonio Madeira
$48.00

Grape: Bical, Fernão Pires, Arinto, Cercial
Vintage: 2023
Type: White

Sourced from a field blend of bical, fernão pires, arinto, and cercial vines aged up to one-hundred and twenty years old, this white wine reflects old-school Dão viticulture. António Madeira manages these ancient plots organically on decomposed granite soils high above sea level. The hand-picked grapes undergo a slow spontaneous fermentation with native wild yeasts in stainless steel. Most of the production stays in steel while a portion ages in neutral French oak barrels.

It pours a luminous straw-yellow color, releasing complex aromas of fresh wild herbs, white flowers, and wet stone. A sleek, medium-bodied frame balances a textured volume with gentle acidity. Flavors of green orchard fruit, lime zest, and wild fennel develop as the wine opens up. A pronounced saline quality runs through mid-palate, giving the mouthfeel pleasant structural tension. It finishes long and dry, leaving a refreshing mineral trace.

Winery

António Madeira works in the Serra da Estrela area of Portugal’s Dão, where granite soils, elevation and old mixed vineyards give the region a distinctive voice. Born in Paris to a family with roots in the Dão, he first made wine here in 2010 and moved back with his family in 2017. His small holdings are spread among villages near Santa Marinha, preserving more than 45 native grape varieties, often growing together in the same old parcels. Biodynamic farming and work with horses reflect his commitment to keeping this vineyard heritage alive.

The cellar approach is informed by growers such as Jules Chauvet, Henri Jayer, Anne-Claude Leflaive and Richard Leroy. Fermentations use indigenous yeasts, with restrained sulfur additions and aging chosen to support each wine. The Vinhas Velhas whites and reds form the core of the estate range, while individual selections explore particular vineyards. The wines combine the freshness of the mountains with the depth of old vines, placing substance and clarity ahead of a standardized varietal profile.