Aphros Wine
Aphros Wine
Vinho Verde, Portugal
The calm, confident and introspective Vasco Croft took over his mother’s semi-abandoned 17th century family estate in 2003 in the Lima Valley in the north of Vinho Verde. Casal do Paço has the soul of an old Quinta, and was the starting point of Aphros. It spreads over nearly 20 hectares of land and forests, six of which are vineyards and four of chestnuts orchards. At its centre stands a granite 16th century 2-storey manor house complete with chapel. The wine cellar on the first floor dates back to the origin of the house.
Vasco assembled a team of consultants and began conversion to biodynamics in 2006, and today is regarded as one of the pioneering biodynamic vintners in Portugal.
AVAILABLE WINES
Address: Rua da Casa Nova, 374, 4990-696 Refoios do Lima – Portugal
Website : https://aphros-wine.com/en/
Aphros
Aphros
Loureiro
Vasco Croft is one of the pioneering biodynamic vintners in Portugal, and Aphros is his personal project. From Vinho Verde's Lima subregion, this loureiro spent time on skins before pressing into stainless for native fermentation (no MLF) and a few months ageing on lees (no bâtonnage) before filtration and bottling.
Very lean and light (10.5%) with crunchy green apple, Asian pear, green spring veg streaking across a slight, saline frame, finishing with a white grapefruit twist. Enjoy this snappy little white with fish / veg tapas.
"The Aphros by Vasco Croft, a.k.a. Portugal’s wine Warhol is a biodynamic farmed and executed varietal dreamer and charmer that has come a loving way over the last 10 years. Croft and team have honed their witchcraft, found the sweet spot and now elevate loureiro to heights it rarely imagines. The concentration is now above and beyond, the lemon intensity fulfilling and the honey bees’ nectar makes it all possible - and come together. The wine is now emulsified, in locomotion, smouldering and commanding. Hard to find a substitute for an Aphros VV. Drink 2025-2028. Tasted May 2025." - 91 points, Michael Godel, WineAlign.com
"The 2023 Loureiro is similar to the Ten. Its from the direct pressing of the grapes and fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts at a slightly higher temperature, so it's a little less exuberant but with a subtle note of honey and beeswax intermixed with the white fruit and flowers. It didn't go through malolactic fermentation and has slightly higher maturity, with 10.5% alcohol, and better balance. 55,600 bottles produced. It was bottled in February 2024 after two months with lees but without bâtonnage. Drink 2024-2027.” - 90 points, Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate, March 27, 2025
Read more about Aphros
Vintage: 2023
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 12
Price per Bottle: $30
Style: Still
Region: Vinho Verde DOC
Subregion: Lima
Country: Portugal
Grape: Loureiro
Colour: White
Vegan: Yes
Organic: Yes
Biodynamic: Yes
Natural: Yes
Low Intervention: Yes