Wine Concept

Private Selection White was created in 2001 with a desire to challenge the classic profile of great Alentejo white wines. To achieve this, we decided to base the wine on the underated Semillon variety and the use of new French oak barrels for fermentation and maturation. With growing the vineyard maturity and a careful selection of barrel suppliers the solid, rich and complex style of this wine has been reinforced over the years.

We’ve invited the artist Pedro A.H. Paixão to illustrate this year’s label.

Awards

91 points, Wine Enthusiast Magazine

 

Agriculture

A dry winter followed by above average temperatures in spring and summer, gave rise to an early start to the harvest. Although temperatures continued to be high, there was no extreme heat during the vintage, and the dry conditions were excellent for fruit quality, producing wines with intense, persistent, aromatic fruit.

The Semillon grapes used in this wine were planted on the Herdade dos Perdigões estate, which belongs to Esporão, in 1996, using northwest/southwest exposure in order to maximize fruit protection from extreme sunlight.

SOIL TYPE
Deep free draining clay soils predominate, ideal for balanced yields and the evolution of fresh aromatic grapes.

AVERAGE AGE OF VINES
20 years old

Grape Varieties

Semillon

Vinification / Maturation

Grapes picked during the cool morning hours and membrane pressed using long cycles at low pressure allowing for careful extraction and rich musts. Short period of cold settling to give higher solids in the must. Fermentation in new French oak barrels (550 litres) with temperature controlled cellar (18 ºC).

Maturation in barrel with lees stirring for up to 9 months to facilitate a better quality of integration between wine and oak, resulting in increased texture and depth. After bottling, the wine received 6 months bottle ageing before market release, allowing for greater richness and complexity.

More Information

Private Selection Red:

Over time, we have been expanding the knowledge about our land in Alentejo. We have a better understanding of its potential and make the most of the uniqueness of the vineyards to produce fine wines, at nature’s pace.

That knowledge takes shape in Private Selection, through a combination of select parcels from the different territories, along with separate vinification and ageing, according to each variety’s profile. This is a full-bodied wine, with texture, intensity, and vitality, that reflects the diversity and richness of Esporão’s territories in Alentejo and, in exceptional years, results in Torre do Esporão.

Private Selection White:

Esporão Private Selection white was launched in 2001 under the name “Garrafeira”. The desire to make a distinctive white wine that would challenge the classic profile of the great wines of the Alentejo, led winemaker David Baverstock to bring the Sémillon grape variety from Australia to our Herdade dos Perdigões estate. This French origin grape variety is iconic in the Barrosa Valley region of Australia, where it grows in a climate similar to that of the Alentejo.

Planted in granitic soils, clayey and deep, the Palmeiras vineyard has adapted well to our soils and the Alentejo heat. It is from this vineyard that the Private Selection White was born.

Every year we invite a new artist to illustrate our labels, and every piece of artwork has its own individual story to tell.

Wine Makers

David Baverstock and Sandra Alves

Colour

Crystal clear straw colour.

Aroma

Balanced and complex, with notes  of grapefruit and fresh apricots, discrete toasty notes nicely integrated, roasted almonds and white pepper.

Palate

Richly textured and elegant, toasty oak adding to a well-structured palate; long, deep and persistent finish.

Sizes

750 ml

Bottling

22th of June 2016

Alcohol/Volume

14 %

Total Acidity

6.49 g/l

pH

3.21

Reducing Sugar / Baumé

2.4 g/l