Rita Marques is one of the new Douro comets. She has some terrific reds, such as a very personal take on the red bastardo variety, and some good ports too. But it’s maybe the whites that most of all cought my attention from the beginning, with their purity, freshness and elegance.
She is found by the Teja river, a tributary to the Douro that ends near Symington’s Vesúvio estate.
This wine is made from very old vines, primarily of the rabigato and côdega do larinho varieties (40% each), with arinto.
The must was spontaneously fermented and raised in inox tanks and used oak, with 5 months on the lees. It clocks in at a mere 13% alcohol.
Contraste Branco 2016 (Conceito Vinhos)
Light yellow, greenish hue. Flowery aroma, slightly waxy, with peaches and pears, and herbs underneath. Full on the palate, a salty minerality and with a limey acidity in a long aftertaste.
Price: Low
Food: Grilled seafood, white fish, some bacalhau dishes, salads