Conceito Branco 2021

Conceito Branco 2021 is a premium white wine from Portugal's Douro, made by Conceito Vinhos. It's a complex blend from very old vines (some pre-phylloxera) on a granite plateau at 600 metres, in Freixo de Numão.

The Wine Advocate
RP 94

Reviewed by: Mark Squires

The 2021 Branco, the estate's flagship, is a field blend from old (century-old) vines at 600 metres, aged for 10 months in used French oak. The main grapes include common Douro whites such as Rabigato, Códega, Códega do Larinho, Cerceal, Gouveio and others. Very dry, it also has 12.9% alcohol.

When first tasted, closer to bottling, this was already charming. It still is, but it has become a little more expressive. Bright and vibrant, it integrates its oak well. There wasn't much oak influence six months ago, and today there seems to be even less. It's a wine that stands out more for structure and freshness than for depth or power, which makes it particularly enjoyable to drink. It expands in the glass as it airs and warms.

It's still early to see any significant evolution, but everything suggests it's improving. It seems refined and sophisticated. It very probably has more to show, but it will need a few years in the cellar for more nuance and complexity to emerge.