2019 Quinta de la Rosa

The 2019 Branco is a blend of 36% Códega, 14% Rabigato and 23% Viosinho, with the remainder in a field blend, mostly Arinto and Rabigato. That does make the blend a little different this year, and it was bottled earlier. It was aged for five months in a 57/43 blend of stainless steel and mostly used French oak. It comes in at 13% alcohol. A surprisingly solid Branco that still seems like a fully fresh white, this has fine depth for the level, coating the palate nicely, while retaining both freshness and grip on the lingering finish. It is serious, tightly wound and still a little fruity. This seems like an overachiever just now, granting that it is not the type of white that I normally expect to see in rarefied air. It does need to prove that it can hold, and perhaps develop, better than I usually expect it to. It was actually a touch closed when it was tasted. In the meanwhile, it shows so great in its youth, that it is worth leaning up on it today. Note: This entry-level Branco was formerly called "douRosa," but it has long since been rebranded. In the past, when it was basically considered a Reserva in quality, it was often exceptional. For the new branding, and hence the new entry level, this seems like a big step forward this vintage. It might not age as well as the actual Reserva Branco this issue, but right now it holds its own pretty well.