Irreverent, Encruzado Description

2013 UDACA Irreverente, Encruzado, Dão, Portugal $8/30

   

       Portugal, famous for Port is also known for their value wines! Due to a limited amount of importing and distribution some of Portugal’s best wines can be accessed for small amounts of money. UDACA is located in the Dão region of portugal, named for the green river that runs through it.

      The UDACA was first formed in 1966 by a handful of young and promising winemakers. UDACA, which stands for Union of Wine Growing Cooperatives, is the products of many vintners from the Dão region of Portugal. The benefit of the union comes from the sharing of facilities. It is incredibly costly for winemakers to buy facilities and equipment to produce wine, sharing the cost and the use of the facilities allow for more small producers to create wine and earn a living.

         UDACA Irreverente is grown on a mixture of granite, clay and limestone soils in the subregion of Serra da Estrela. The granite soil is of poor fertility but add minerality to the wine. The wine is a blend of native varietals Encruzado and Malvazia Fina e Bical. The Malvazia grapes are subtle and often add

freshness and moderate complexity. Encruzado grape is grown strictly in the Dão and is considered one of Portugal's top white grapes. Encruzado is know for it’s ability to strike balance between sugar and acidity, it’s high minerality, and delicate floral and citrus aromas. During the vinification process (the act of making wine), the whole grape is pressed and some of the skin is macerated. Fermentation happens in 10 days in French Oak barrels and then aging happens in French oak barrels with Battonage (stirring of the lees).