Açores Branco 'Terras de Lava'

Score

90+

"The 2024 Terras de Lava Branco was produced with grapes from different parts of Pico Island, mostly wines from the island and some from continental Portugal, hence IG Açores. The full clusters were pressed and the juice fermented separately by variety and place and was kept with fine lees for six months. It's clean, young and fruit-driven, with a tender palate, good ripeness and integrated acidity. It comes in at 12.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.42 and 6.22 grams of acidity. 40,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2025."

Score

91

"Handpicked grapes were selected and pressed to produce all the wines, including the 2022 Terras de Lava Branco, produced with 70% Arinto dos Açores, 25% Verdelho and 5% Fernão Pires, a grape not allowed by the DOC Pico, so this is IG Açores. It's quite aromatic, with floral notes from the Arinto, dried peach and a touch of honey and beeswax. It has limited ripeness and 12% alcohol, a pH of 3.35 (it didn't go through malolactic) and 6.05 grams of acidity. The palate is round and velvety but with a salty twist that is the signature of the island. It™s delicious and full of personality. 2022 was a very salty year, due to the wind and the seawater in the vines. It was also the worst year in terms of production in the history of the Cooperativa; it was a year with yields below 500 kilos per hectare, when the average is usually about 1,000 kilos per hectare. 66,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in February 2024."