Alagoa Velha · Labios Nus Branco 2023

Alagoa Velha

It is on the schist-rich land where their ancestor once planted fig trees that Jacinto and Jorge Palma Dias, of Belgian-Portuguese descent, chose to establish their vineyard. A wild, untamed landscape, scented with garrigue and constantly stirred by the ever-present wind. The two brothers selected the latest-ripening Portuguese grape varieties — including the magnificent Baga — choosing not clones but massal selections (meaning each vine is different from the next), following the wise counsel of Nicolas Joly, the “pope” of biodynamics in the Loire Valley.

Another distinctive feature of this still little-known estate is the exclusive use of terracotta jars for both vinification and ageing. These tinajas travelled from Spain to Castro Marim and were used for the first vinification in 2020. Living on site, Jorge is supported in the vineyards by agronomist and winemaker Anibal Neto, and in the cellar by oenologist Carlos Raposo, while Jacinto oversees distribution in Belgium.

Labios Nus Branco 

This orange wine is produced in equal proportions from Arinto, Rabigato and Crato Branco. After destemming, the grapes ferment and macerate for six months in amphorae, followed by a further six months of ageing in the same type of vessel. Only a light sulphur addition is made at bottling.

Aromas of quince, orange marmalade, spices and nuts are characteristic of orange wines. The gentle oxidation is well controlled, though it is slightly more pronounced today in the 2021 vintage, as part of its natural evolution. The finish is fairly long.

About the name of the cuvée

“Labios Nus” translates as “Bare lips” (or "Lèvres nues" in French) — a reminder that Alagoa Velha, currently converting to organic farming, excludes all chemical inputs both in the vineyard and in the cellar. The name is also a subtle nod to the Belgian Surrealist literary and artistic journal Les Lèvres Nues, launched in 1953 by Marcel Mariën.