Susana Esteban Foudre 2020

Susana Esteban Foudre 2020 is a highly distinguished white from the Alentejo, specifically the Portalegre sub-region. It stands out for its vibrant freshness, strong mineral expression and a winemaking process that respects traditional practices.

Susana Esteban Foudre 2020 was rated 93 points by Mark Squires in Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, placing it in the “Outstanding” category (90–95 points) of the Parker scale.

It's a precise wine with strong personality, standing out for freshness and minerality unusual in the region, the result of the altitude of the Serra de São Mamede and extended ageing in an old foudre, factors that  contribute to its elegance and complexity.

Susana Esteban Foudre 2020 — Critics' Highlights

Grandes Escolhas magazine gave this wine an impressive score of 19.5/20, calling it an “exciting” experience that goes “beyond perfect”.

Tasting Note Summary

According to critics, this wine shows striking elegance from the first contact. It combines finesse and sophistication with enveloping intensity, the result of the harmony between old mountain vines and the subtle touch of ageing in an Alsace-inspired foudre.

On the palate it's broad and clear, with an impeccable texture. Its vibrant minerality and remarkable juiciness stand out, creating a profile experts consider truly distinctive and memorable.

The finish is long and persistent, extending the freshness typical of the high-altitude vineyards of the Serra de São Mamede, leaving a lasting, refined impression.

Revista de Vinhos gave Susana Esteban Foudre 2020 the maximum score of 20 points, reinforcing its status as one of Portugal's rarest and most prestigious whites, a result showing both technical excellence and the singular expression of the Portalegre terroir.

From the first contact, the wine stands out for its intensity and distinctive character, born of the balance between the old vines of the Serra de São Mamede and the subtle influence of ageing in an old Alsatian foudre, which adds just a delicate nuance.

On tasting it's broad, deep and marked by well-defined minerality, with a crystalline texture and a juiciness that accentuates its freshness and gives it a very personal identity.

Vinification in a 1961 foudre is seen as key to its complexity, translating into an elegant, sophisticated and harmonious expression on the palate.