90 Mark Squires - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The NV Vértice Cuvée Espumante Bruto, formerly known as the NV Cuvée (which, in turn, was formerly a vintage-dated wine), is a non-vintage wine disgorged in April 2022 after some 35 months on the lees, a big drop from the last version. About 50% of the blend is reserve wine aged in used French oak for 48 months. It comes in dry and with 13% alcohol. It is mostly a blend of typical Douro grapes but dominated by Gouveio (60%) and Touriga Franca (13%), then smaller dollops of other local grapes. Finally, it is also a blend of three vintages (25% each from 2013 and 2015, with the rest unoaked from 2020). As is always the case on this wine, the disgorgement date is on the label. Very well done, this is fresher than last year's version, but it's also more complex and toastier than the regular NV Branco Espumante. I love the combination of mouthfeel, fruit and complexity here. It is a nice value. This is only sold in magnum, to which the price applies.