Luis Seabra Xisto Ilimitado 2023 Branco

€ 19.84

It has the lemon-mineral punch of great Burgundy, plus a ripe pear fruitiness, white poppy and remarkable density. This is sleek, contemporary white winemaking of the highest order. -- Jon Bonné | Bright straw yellow. On the nose, stone and orchard fruit abound, with flinty wet stone and white pepper laid over the dominant aromatics. On the palate, impressively bright and mineral driven, with a great balance between power and lift. Lemon, green apple, bosc pear flavors comingle with a touch of floral tone and slate minerals. Juicy and mineral-driven all at once.

Xisto Ilimitado, by famed Douro winemaker Luis Seabra, is a Portuguese analogue to the idea of a “village” level Burgundy. A field blend of 6 varieties planted across 3 subzones in the Douro, Ilimitado is a survey of the schist-driven terroir in the appellation. The Douro is the oldest demarcated appellation in Western Europe, chartered in 1756. Since 1986, the focus has diversified from the early days of fortified wine production in Porto, giving rise to a number of fine table wines that spearheaded the Portuguese wine market in America in the early 2000s. Luis Seabra, former winemaker at Niepoort, has focused his winemaking on the distinct soil types in the valley, and this latest project shows the breadth of style that is achievable in the region. Bright, focused and fresh, Xisto Ilimitado is a great introduction to the new Douro.

Food-Pairing

Xisto Ilimitado Branco pairs beautifully with roast poultry, white fish and seafood, and especially spicier preparations

Grapes: 50% Rabigato, 20% Codega, 15% Gouveio (Godello), 10% Viosinho

For his white wine, he relies on 50-year-old vineyards in the higher sub-region around Meda (eastern part of the Douro Valley). They guarantee the acidity that Luis wants in his white wine. Mainly made with Rabigato, to which the Códega de Larinho, Gouveio and Viosinho are added to a lesser extent, the grapes come from mica slate soils. Aged for 12 months in used barrels.

Alcoholcontent

13%vol

Store & Serve

Decant for an hour prior to serving.

Serve at 11 - 13 ºC. Can be drunk up to 6 years after harvest

Awards & Critics

Tags: Luis Seabra Vinhos - Douro