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Susana EstebanAlentejo

€67.90
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Vintage
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TECH SHEET

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Vintage
2020
Country
PortugalPortugal
Region
Alentejo
Type
White
Producer
Susana Esteban
Winemaker
Susana Esteban
Grapes
Blend of traditional grapes from the Serra São Mamedefrom an exceptional 80-year-old vineyard at 700 metres
Alcohol
12.5% vol.
Bottle
750 ml

Wine profile

White

Acidity
Body
Sweetness
Alcohol12.5% vol

Tap or hover a scale

Wine profile · White

Acidity

Level 3 of 5 — Fresh and balanced – like a green apple

Below typical (4.1) · Typical: average of 434 whites at Vinogrande

What it is

Acidity is the wine's freshness: it gives energy, makes your mouth water and helps the wine age. Too little and it tastes flat; too much and it feels sharp.

Where you feel it

On the sides of your tongue, and in how much your mouth waters after you swallow. The more you salivate, the higher the acidity.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: the typical profile of the region (WSET), as we have no specific data. Estimate

Labs measure total acidity (grams of tartaric acid per litre; most wines sit between 4.5 and 8 g/L) and pH (usually 3.0 to 3.8; the lower, the more acidic). Our scale turns that into how it feels in the mouth.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Low: soft, little freshness
  2. 2Medium−: gentle
  3. 3Medium: fresh and balanced This wine
  4. 4Medium+: lively, mouth-watering
  5. 5High: crisp, racy

In practice, for this wine

Versatile at the table: grilled fish, poultry, warm salads. Moderate chilling lifts the freshness.

Wine profile · White

Body

Level 4 of 5 — Full and broad – like single cream

Above typical (3.1) · Typical: average of 436 whites at Vinogrande

What it is

Body is the weight and texture of the wine in your mouth. It comes mainly from alcohol, extract (everything dissolved apart from water), glycerol and, in sweet wines, sugar.

Where you feel it

Across the whole tongue: how much the wine fills your mouth. Think skimmed milk, whole milk and cream.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: the typical profile of the region (WSET), as we have no specific data. Estimate

There is no single number for body. Labs measure dry extract (many wines are between 18 and 30 g/L) and alcohol, which WSET says has the biggest effect on body. Our scale rates the weight in the mouth.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Light: fluid and delicate
  2. 2Medium−: light-ish
  3. 3Medium: rounded
  4. 4Medium+: broad This wine
  5. 5Full: dense and rich

In practice, for this wine

Wants dishes with structure: red meat, roasts, mushrooms, aged cheese.

Wine profile · White

Sweetness

Level 1 of 5 — Dry – no sugar you can taste, just fruit

In line with typical (1.1) · Typical: average of 453 whites at Vinogrande

What it is

Sweetness comes from the grape's natural sugar that did not turn into alcohol (residual sugar). A dry wine has almost none; a Port or a late-harvest wine has a lot.

Where you feel it

On the tip of your tongue, right from the first sip, and as a richer, oilier feel in the mouth. Acidity can mask it.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: the sweetness category recorded on the product sheet (dry, off-dry…).

It is measured in grams of residual sugar per litre. General EU bands: dry up to about 4 g/L, off-dry up to 12, medium-sweet up to 45, sweet above that. On our scale: under 4 g/L = 1, up to 12 = 2, up to 45 = 3, up to 100 = 4, more = 5.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Dry: no noticeable sugar This wine
  2. 2Off-dry: a touch of sweetness
  3. 3Medium-sweet: clearly sweet
  4. 4Sweet: rich and fruity
  5. 5Very sweet: luscious

In practice, for this wine

Goes with the whole meal, from savoury to mildly spicy. Avoid sweet desserts: they make it taste bitter.

Wine profile · White

Alcohol 12.5% vol

Level 3 of 5 — Balanced – soft warmth on the finish

In line with typical (3.1) · Typical: average of 453 whites at Vinogrande

What it is

Alcohol is made when yeast ferments the grape's sugar. It brings warmth, adds to the body and carries the aromas.

Where you feel it

As warmth in your throat and chest when you swallow, and a slight burn on the nose when it is high.

How we set this level

For this wine, the level comes from: the alcohol stated on the label — On the label: 12.5% vol.

It is the one axis that is always measured: it comes from the % vol on the label. Still and sparkling wines: under 11% = 1, up to 12.4% = 2, up to 13.4% = 3, up to 14.4% = 4, 14.5% or more = 5. Fortified wines (Port, Madeira…) have their own scale: under 16.5% = 2, up to 18.4% = 3, up to 19.9% = 4, 20% or more = 5.

The 1–5 scale follows the WSET tasting grid. We start from the producer's technical sheet and Vinogrande's tasting notes, plus measured data where it exists, such as the alcohol on the label. Only when that is missing do we use the typical profile of the style, region or grapes, and we say so.

The 1–5 scale

  1. 1Low: under 11% vol
  2. 2Medium−: 11–12.4% vol
  3. 3Medium: 12.5–13.4% vol This wine
  4. 4Medium+: 13.5–14.4% vol
  5. 5High: 14.5% vol or more

In practice, for this wine

Classic balance, at ease with most dishes.

Critics & awards

  • Vivino: keeps an average of 4.6 / 5 based on user ratings.

Serve & enjoy

Temperature 8–10 °CFridge 3 h · or ice bucket with water 20 min
GlassWhite-wine glass

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Description

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.

FinishThe 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.

What to serve with this wine

Dishes calculated from this wine’s profile, grapes and region.