Carlos Alonso, Piano Reserva Branco, 2024, Douro (DOC)

'One-Liner'
A richly textured Douro white – ripe orchard and tropical fruit meet creamy lees, toasted oak and a long, elegant finish.

Tasting Note
Bright and inviting in the glass, with a complex nose combining ripe white orchard fruit and tropical fruit with well-integrated notes of French oak. The palate is generous and full-flavoured, with plenty of ripe fruit at its core and a rounded texture from extended barrel ageing and regular bâtonnage. Toasted notes from the oak bring extra depth and savoury complexity without overwhelming the fruit. There is enough freshness to keep the wine balanced despite its richness, giving the whole thing a polished, harmonious feel. Long and elegant on the finish, with ripe fruit and gentle toast lingering behind.

Country: Portugal
Region: Douro DOC
Sub-Region: n/a
Grape(s): 60% Gouveio, 30% Viosinho, 10% Códega do Larinho
ABV: 13.5%
Friendly: Vegan, Vegetarian, Sustainable

Awards & Critics' Scores
n/a

The Story
Piano Reserva Branco shows a rather different face of the Douro from the powerful reds and Ports for which the region is best known. Its Gouveio, Viosinho and Códega do Larinho come from west-facing vineyards around Alijó in the heart of the Cima Corgo, planted between 1991 and 1992 at around 600 metres above sea level on soils where granite and schist meet. That altitude helps bring freshness to grapes ripened beneath the Douro sun. The juice begins fermentation in stainless steel before moving into new 500-litre French oak barrels, where fermentation is completed and the wine remains for nine months with regular bâtonnage. A further six months in bottle allows everything to settle together, producing a white with the ripe fruit of the Douro but enough oak, lees texture and structure to make it a genuinely serious food wine.

Perfect With... (click me for the recipe)
- Meat/fish: Prawn linguine with chilli and tomato
- Vegetarian: Manchego and quince tart
- Vegan: Carrot, chickpea and preserved lemon traybake with herbs