Cortes de Cima Areia (Sand) Syrah 2021

Cortes de Cima — Areia Syrah 2021

95/100 Jamie Goode
“From sandy soils close to the coast, it shows succulence and freshness, with a linear and pure profile, marked by bright red fruit, peppery notes, and great energy.”

Context

Areia Syrah 2021 is part of an in-depth terroir study developed by Cortes de Cima in the 2021 vintage, with consultancy from Pedro Parra. The project began with the selection of the best Syrah parcels across three distinct types of bedrock — limestone, granite, and volcanic sand — while keeping all other variables as similar as possible.
From each vineyard, a single 500 L barrel was selected and bottled separately, with the aim of revealing, in a crystal-clear manner, the differences driven by soil.

This Areia Syrah comes from volcanic sandy soils with gravel, close to the Atlantic, in Vila Nova de Milfontes, translating into a cool-climate Syrah that is ethereal, precise, and deeply elegant.

Terroir

Location: Vila Nova de Milfontes
Influence: Atlantic
Soil: Volcanic sand with gravel
Profile: Natural freshness, low extraction, great aromatic definition

Grape Variety

100% Syrah

Vinification

Harvest: Manual, with refrigerated transport to the Vidigueira winery
Selection: Manual, upon arrival at the winery
Fermentation: Spontaneous
Whole clusters: 33%
Maceration: 21 days, with gentle extraction

The approach favors delicacy, precision, and soil expression, avoiding any excess of structure.

Aging

24 months in a single 500 L French oak barrel, from 2014
Bottled at the family estate in October 2023

Tasting Notes

Aromatic profile typical of cool-climate Syrah, with notes of cedar, nutmeg, and white pepper, wrapped in nuances of lavender and violet. On the palate, it is fresh and elegant, with fine, granular, delicate tannins, supporting a wine of great lightness, precision, and ethereal dimension.

Pairings

Excellent with:

• delicately cut grilled meats

• young lamb

• Mediterranean-inspired dishes

• structured vegetable-based cuisine

• roast poultry

Service

Temperature: 16–18 °C
Glass: medium-bodied red wine glass, Burgundy style
Decanting: recommended

Technical Sheet

Producer: Cortes de Cima
Wine: Areia Syrah
Vintage: 2021
Region: Alentejo (Atlantic influence)
Location: Vila Nova de Milfontes
Grape variety: 100% Syrah
Soil: Volcanic sand with gravel
Harvest: Manual, with refrigerated transport
Fermentation: Spontaneous
Whole clusters: 33%
Maceration: 21 days, low extraction
Aging: 24 months in a single French oak barrel (500 L, 2014)
Alcohol: 12.5% vol.
Total SO₂: 62 mg/L
Bottling: October 2023
Production: 600 bottles (0.75 L)