Casa Ferreirinha : Antonia Adelaide Ferreira 2016

This has aromas of white lavender, juniper berry, grilled pineapple, lemon pith, cedar and smoke. Medium-bodied with a richly toasted and spiced palate. Ambitiously oaked and lacking some fruit. Drink now.

The 2016 Antónia Adelaide Ferreira Branco is a 50/50 blend of Viosinho and Arinto, aged for 12 months in new French oak vats (2,000 liters). It comes in very dry and at 13% alcohol. This is not the first vintage, but this pricey white is a relatively new effort and attempt to create a high-end white. This is better than the last I saw (the 2014). Handling its wood rather well, it has a laser-like focus and plenty of acidity to lift the fruit and counter the wood. There is a touch of wood and perhaps a hint of reduction, but the long finish here is impressive. This probably will age beautifully—not that there is lot of track record. It should integrate its parts and become more interesting in time as it ages. There were 350 cases produced.