Lisboa
COZs "Pop" Branco '21
COZs is a partnership formed in 2015 between two friends, who just happen to be two of Portugal’s best winemakers: Tiago Teles (Tiago Teles Wines) and António Marques de la Cruz (Quinta da Serradinha). They joined forces to produce a wine from a special vineyard at Quinta dos Cozinheiros, but soon another opportunity emerged that the duo could not pass up, in Serra de Montejunto, a gorgeous, forested limestone mount range approximately an hour’s drive north of Lisbon and about six miles from the Atlantic.
Montejunto had become known in wine circles for an obscure and rare grape variety called Vital. Marta Soares of Casal Figueira took over from her late husband António, producing what was the only 100% Vital white wine from Portugal.
With Tiago living in Lisbon, and António in Leiria, Montejunto was a great in-between location for the partners to look for vineyards. Eventually the perfect situation emerged, as a small vineyard of Vital became available for sale, and thus COZs "VP-Vital" was born. Soon, another Vital from the Outeiro vineyard was added, as well a a red wine from the local variety Castelão. Their other fortunate break was their ability to lease space in what was once a much larger winery (Quinta do Olival da Murta), now being turned around by the younger generation. This gave the team a home and the ability to renovate a cellar space exactly as they had needed.
The latest from COZs is their white and red wines called “PoP.” Their idea to make wine in the more “popular” or vin de soif style produced two great values for everyday drinking. We recently featured the red in our monthly club, and now it is time for the Vital to take center stage.
This is a great introduction to Vital from a classic Atlantic vintage, such as 2021. The grapes were hand harvested, underwent non-fermentative maceration in 1,000-litre dornas (vats) for two days, and then were pressed to ferment and age in 20-hectoliter concrete vats.
Pretty aromatics combine spiced apple, pear, and mineral notes. Bright and fresh up front, with notes of tart apple and citrus, and plenty of salty notes on the long finish. This is such an outstanding food wine, as you can pair it with shellfish, such as grilled scarlet prawns, and I’ve even enjoyed it alongside roasted goat.
This is a natural wine that has a sense of the place that it came from and is downright delicious. Stock up today!
Montejunto had become known in wine circles for an obscure and rare grape variety called Vital. Marta Soares of Casal Figueira took over from her late husband António, producing what was the only 100% Vital white wine from Portugal.
With Tiago living in Lisbon, and António in Leiria, Montejunto was a great in-between location for the partners to look for vineyards. Eventually the perfect situation emerged, as a small vineyard of Vital became available for sale, and thus COZs "VP-Vital" was born. Soon, another Vital from the Outeiro vineyard was added, as well a a red wine from the local variety Castelão. Their other fortunate break was their ability to lease space in what was once a much larger winery (Quinta do Olival da Murta), now being turned around by the younger generation. This gave the team a home and the ability to renovate a cellar space exactly as they had needed.
The latest from COZs is their white and red wines called “PoP.” Their idea to make wine in the more “popular” or vin de soif style produced two great values for everyday drinking. We recently featured the red in our monthly club, and now it is time for the Vital to take center stage.
This is a great introduction to Vital from a classic Atlantic vintage, such as 2021. The grapes were hand harvested, underwent non-fermentative maceration in 1,000-litre dornas (vats) for two days, and then were pressed to ferment and age in 20-hectoliter concrete vats.
Pretty aromatics combine spiced apple, pear, and mineral notes. Bright and fresh up front, with notes of tart apple and citrus, and plenty of salty notes on the long finish. This is such an outstanding food wine, as you can pair it with shellfish, such as grilled scarlet prawns, and I’ve even enjoyed it alongside roasted goat.
This is a natural wine that has a sense of the place that it came from and is downright delicious. Stock up today!
Perman
Portugal
Details
| Producer | COZs de Montexuntos |