Carlos Raposo World Wild Wines – Ideal Branco 2022
Dão, Portugal
A Precise Expression of Dão’s Terroir
The 2022 Ideal Branco by Carlos Raposo reflects a focused approach to winemaking in one of Portugal’s most quietly compelling regions. Sourced from old-vine parcels in Senhorim, it brings together Encruzado, Bical, Cerceal, and Malvasia Fina—varieties that thrive in granite-rich soils and cooler elevations.
The wine is shaped by careful decisions at every stage—from harvest timing to native yeast fermentation and élevage in Puligny-Montrachet oak. What emerges is not a wine made to impress, but one that insists on clarity, structure, and restraint.
This is Dão through a sharper lens. Precise, mineral, and deliberately built for age and evolution.
Technical Profile
The 2022 Ideal Branco is produced in the Dão region of Portugal, specifically in the sub-region of Senhorim, where vineyards sit between 400 and 700 meters above sea level. The soils are predominantly granite-based, contributing to the wine’s mineral tension and clarity.
The blend includes Encruzado, Bical, Cerceal, and Malvasia Fina, sourced from 30- to 60-year-old vines. These are mostly monovarietal plots, planted at high density (6,000 to 10,000 vines per hectare) and trained using Guyot and Royat systems. Harvesting is done manually in September, with strict selection based on ripeness and potential.
Vinification begins with gentle whole-bunch pressing, followed by natural settling in stainless steel tanks. Fermentation takes place at controlled temperatures using indigenous yeasts only, without any chemical additions. A partial malolactic fermentation occurs in French oak barrels.
The wine ages for 11 months in French oak, sourced specifically from Puligny-Montrachet cooperages—an intentional choice to support the wine’s texture without overt oak influence. No fining agents are used, and SO₂ levels remain low, with free SO₂ under 20 mg/L and total SO₂ at 94 mg/L.
The final wine clocks in at 13% alcohol, with a pH of 3.3, total acidity of 6.3 g/L, and volatile acidity of 0.5 g/L. Only 6,000 bottles (750ml) were produced, each reflecting a tight selection and precise execution.
Tasting Notes
Aromatics are focused and quiet at first. Flint, wet stone, and crushed shells dominate the opening. There’s no fruit rush—just clarity and edge. Give it air.
As the wine opens, subtle layers emerge: dried citrus peel, faint orange blossom, and white flowers. A restrained smokiness builds in the background—never dominant, always in balance.
Oak is present but invisible. The 11 months in Puligny-Montrachet barrels lend grain and depth, not flavor. There’s no vanilla, no toast—just structure.
On the palate, Ideal Branco 2022 is linear but not sharp, creamy without weight, saline, not soft. The acidity is firm and sustained, driving the wine forward. Flavors of almond skin, dried herbs, and faint stone fruit sit within the frame, never outside it.
The finish is long, mineral, and dry, with a fine chalky grip and echo of citrus oil. It leaves a sense of quiet energy, not volume.
Food Pairing
Ideal Branco 2022 is a versatile companion for refined, ingredient-driven dishes.
Recommended pairings:
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Oysters and other shellfish
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Oven-baked white fish
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Roasted poultry and white meats
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Vegetarian dishes with root vegetables (turnip, sweet potato, beetroot)
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Caesar salad
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Cheese-based vegetarian plates
Suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
Critical Acclaim
The 2022 Ideal Branco has received strong, measured praise from respected international critics. James Suckling awarded it 94 points, citing its balance, texture, and depth as standout features. Jancis Robinson, known for her analytical precision, rated the wine 17/20, highlighting its clarity, restraint, and mineral definition—hallmarks of well-executed Dão whites.
These evaluations reflect the wine’s technical finesse as well as its stylistic integrity. It stands apart for its ability to deliver complexity without weight, structure without excess. The consensus among critics is clear: Ideal Branco is positioned among the most serious and age-worthy white wines currently produced in Portugal.
Explore and Order
If you're looking to deepen your understanding of Dão or expand your white wine cellar with something built to age, this is the right bottle.
Limited availability.
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