2024 GOTA Azahar, Vinho Verde

Natalia Jessa’s GOTA project focuses on stripping away the commercial artifice of Vinho Verde to highlight regional typicity through low-intervention, site-specific farming. Sourced from sustainable, dry-farmed plots on granite and schist soils within 15 kilometers of the Atlantic, this blend of Loureiro and Arinto is anchored by its proximity to the ocean's cooling influence. Technical execution involves whole-cluster pressing and native yeast fermentation in concrete and stainless steel vats, followed by several months of undisturbed lees aging to develop textural breadth without the use of forced carbonation. The 2024 growing season was defined by a mild summer and significant thermal amplitude in August, which preserved high-toned acid retention while fostering the phenolic maturity necessary for mid-palate density. The resulting wine is characterized by its structural tension and a lean, saline-inflected finish that reflects the specific agricultural rigor of the vintage.