Quinta da Alorna Castelao 2021

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Wine and literature. 

For me these two words belong together in a very special and intricate way. Literature has enough examples of deep connection to wine. From Omar Khayam to Goethe there have been several writers which have made references to wine and this number does not seem to stop growing in what seems to be a pretty special relationship. 

Getting into a more daily life level, I often get asked at work about what I am reading and, in some cases, I even get books borrowed. Confidence wise, this is something that definitely connects to my previous post.  

Now that I am reading Murakami's  The city and its uncertain walls the number of people who ask me about it is even bigger, attesting the author's popularity. 

Something that has also marked me was this good friend of mine saying that he was first driven to drink Chablis after having read Stanislaw Lem's The Futurological Congress.  

Close to where I was born there was this emblematic literary figure popularly known as Marquise of Alorna. Having lived in the second half of the XVIIIth and beginning of the XIXth century, she became widely known for her literary meetings.

Nowadays the property is ground to the production of several wines. Some of which I have already written about in this blog.

After having read an interesting article about how Castelao can easily become the new trend wine due to its freshness and relatively low alcohol level, I have decided to try the 2021 harvest of Marquesa da Alorna.

The freshness was definitively there, enriching the typical cherry flavours of Castelao as well as some notes of spices which make it quite interesting, specially when accompanying some roasted vegetables seasoned in a mediterranean way.

I also find it quite impressive that it has reduced its alcohol level from 14,5% in 2020 to 13,5% in 2021 matching the general tendency of the market for fresher and less alcoholic wines.  

I do believe this wine is going towards a new trend on drinking behaviour and it is always nice to come across examples of this new dynamic and specially with a literary background. 

 

15/20
Country: Portugal
Region: Tejo 
Grapes: Castelao
13,5%
Winemaker:  Martta Reis Simoes

Website: https://alorna.pt/portfolio-items/castelao/

 

Location: Hamburg, Germany

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