2024 Nortico, Alvarinho, Minho

Founded by Rui Abecassis and vinified by Alberto Orte, Nortico is a deliberate study of the small-scale "garden" viticulture that defines the northernmost reaches of the Minho. The wine is sourced from over 100 hand-farmed plots and undergoes a lengthy, cool fermentation in stainless steel followed by four months of lees aging to build textural weight without the use of malolactic fermentation or added carbonation. This Alvarinho originates from the Monção and Melgaço sub-region, where granitic and schistous soils combine with a mountain-sheltered microclimate to produce a structurally distinct expression of the variety. The 2024 growing season, characterized by a rainy winter and a notably mild ripening cycle, has produced a vintage defined by high-toned acidity and a crystalline, saline-driven focus. The resulting wine possesses significant mid-palate density and architectural tension, reflecting the precise agricultural decisions necessitated by the year's balanced climatic cycle.