Quinta do Ameal, an estate located in the Lima River Valley, has released its new vintages: Ameal Loureiro 2019 and Ameal Solo Único 2019.
With these releases, the first since Esporão acquired the estate at the end of last year, Ameal wines present a new image. The new bottles reflect a return to the origins of Quinta do Ameal wines, and the new labels ensure a clear portfolio hierarchy, consistency, and alignment with the value proposition of each wine.
Loureiro
According to winemaker José Luís Moreira da Silva, these two wines seek to reflect the characteristics of the Loureiro grape variety and its origin. They are two different wines, with great potential for evolution, revealing the versatility of this variety. “ We believe that the Loureiro grape variety has great potential for experimentation and development. We want to continue the project started by Pedro Araújo and reinforce it, making it a little closer to people. These two wines reflect that intention, ultimately revealing the versatility and evolutionary capacity of the Loureiro grape variety .”
2019 had a very rainy autumn and winter, the spring had a similar start, followed by a drier period that contributed to the good development of the grapes. Despite the initial pressure, it was a year without major phytosanitary problems, in which the grapes arrived at the winery in good condition and with good ripeness.
The Ameal Loureiro 2019, the 20th vintage of this wine, demonstrates the capacity of this grape variety to produce high-quality wines with the ability to evolve. The North American publication, Wine&Spirits, awarded it 93 points/Best Buy. According to Joshua Greene, the Ameal Loureiro 2019 is characterized by “ a fruity nose, with aromas of fresh, ripe green pears ready to fall from the tree. With a great aromatic intensity dominated by minerals: stone, flowers and salt in a tense impasse, which calms with the round and generous texture of the wine. This wine is irresistible while young and is accessible enough that it is worth keeping a bottle or two for next summer .”
The Ameal Solo Único 2019 Loureiro comes from a single plot and demonstrates this grape variety's ability to produce wines with character, complexity, and aging potential. It fermented and aged partially in a concrete egg. Light citrus in color, it is dominated by vibrant acidity with a long, persistent finish.
