Márcio Lopes Ensaios Soltos Pét Nat 2023

Márcio Lopes Ensaios Soltos Pét-Nat 2023
Vinhos Verdes, Portugal
Grapes: 50% Alvarinho, 50% Loureiro
Production: 600 bottles (estimated)
Alcohol: 12%
Natural | Unfiltered | Unfined

Producer
We crossed paths with Márcio Lopes early in his career, and it was immediately clear he would become one of the great names in Portuguese wine — and so it came to be. Now, under 40, he has accumulated countless awards, top scores from international critics, and a “Top 100 Wine Discoveries 2020” mention by Robert Parker. Still, the Márcio we know remains a dreamer — focused, humble, family-driven and one of the finest interpreters of Portuguese terroir.

His Ensaios Soltos series is where he gives free rein to creativity, bottling small experimental batches that combine alternative techniques, native varieties and forgotten terroirs.

Tasting Notes
The Ensaios Soltos Pét-Nat 2023 is more than a natural sparkling wine — it’s an act of creative freedom from winemaker Márcio Lopes. Made in tiny quantities as part of the Ensaios Soltos series, this wine celebrates experimentation and ancient methods.

Crafted from Alvarinho and Loureiro from young vines in Melgaço and Ponte de Lima, grown on granite soils, this pét-nat is bottled at the tail end of alcoholic fermentation, with residual sugars allowing for natural bottle fermentation — no added yeast, no added sugar.

The result is a hazy, vibrant and effervescent wine, with aromas of citrus, green apple, white flowers, and a dry, saline finish. A free, fresh and delightfully imperfect wine — the very essence of a successful “ensaio”.

Technical Sheet

Region: Vinhos Verdes
Sub-regions: Melgaço & Ponte de Lima
Grapes: 50% Alvarinho, 50% Loureiro
Soil: Granite
Fermentation: Spontaneous, finished in bottle (single fermentation)
Intervention: Minimal (unfiltered, unfined)
Ageing: No additional ageing
Alcohol: 12%
Bottle: 0.75 L

Pairing Suggestions

• Raw oysters and shellfish
• Fish ceviche or tartare
• Vegetable tempura
• Light alfresco snacks and appetizers
• Soft, tangy cheeses (e.g., fresh chèvre)