Cortes de Cima Palhete 1 Liter 2023

Cortes de Cima sits in Portugal's warm Alentejo, and this palhete comes from a collaboration between Anna Jorgensen and Daniel Niepoort of the Douro. Palhete is a traditional Portuguese style in which white and red grapes are fermented together, here Viognier and Syrah, giving a wine paler and fresher than a conventional rosé. The vines grow on schist and clay soils under a hot, dry continental climate, with cool nights that hold back sugar and keep acidity in balance, which matters in a wine of only 10.5% alcohol. Co-fermentation knits the aromatic stone fruit of Viognier to the red berry and pepper of Syrah, while ageing in clay amphorae lets the wine breathe gently and gain texture without oak flavour. The colour is pale and bright. The nose leads with ripe strawberry, white peach and a floral lift, and the palate is light, smooth and dry with gentle acidity and a clean finish. Serve at 8 to 10 degrees. It works as an aperitif and with white fish, summer salads and light poultry.