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Luis Seabra
Ilimitado is akin to Seabra's village wine. This Branco comes from mica, schist, and feldspar soils (what winemaker Luis Seabra deems the best for whites), this is a field blend of Rabigato, Códega, Gouveio, Viosinho and more, with vines 30-60 years old, and at 400-500m in altitude. After crushing and destemming, the grapes are pressed together, native fermented, and aged in used French oak barrels for 1 year on lees, with no MLF or bâtonnage.
Perfumed pear blossom, gooseberry, green fig, and lemon are woven across the stony palate, tightened with grapefruit pith, and stretched long on the lingering, saline finish. Great energy here.
“The excellent "entry" point to Seabra's white portfolioi is composed mostly of Rabigato, with Arinto, Gouveio and Códega, from plots around Mêda at 500–700 m on classic Douro schist. It ages on full lees in barrels and partly in stainless steel, and in 2024 delivers a particularly appealing set of aromatics, notably floral, like apple and cherry blossoms, sweet citrus fruit, lemon, sweet green herbs and more in a complex and engaging ensemble. Long finish, too. Lovely stuff, drinking now. Tasted October 2026.” - 92 points, John Szabo, MS, WineAlign.com
“This is quite delicious, and ripe. The nose is plump with yellow fruit - peach/apricot, honeysuckle, vanilla and nutmeg from barrel ageing. There is a twinge of acetic just below the surface. Surprisingly the alcohol is only 12.5%. There is impressive gloss and richness here, yet Douro minerality and structure remain core. The length is excellent. Tasted October 2026.” - 92 points, David Lawrason, WineAlign.com
“Xisto Ilimitado has become the darling of sommeliers and their licensee lists to offer up a top echelon white field blend at a reasonable cost. The world of what it costs to purchase high quality wine today means that prices have risen, and by the glass options get tougher in this category. But Seabra’s was always the steal, and remains so, even at this above $35 price. Consistency thy name is Xisto, a multi-faceted, multifarious and layered Douro Valley silker inclusive of rabigato, côdega do larinho, gouveio and viosinho. A return to flesh, pulp and creamy texture never abandons the flint and smoulder. Still enthralling, vintage after vintage, yet never exactly the same. Drink 2026-2029. Tasted October 2026.” - 92 points, Michael Godel, WineAlign.com
Read about Luis Seabra
Vintage: 2024
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 12
Price per Bottle: $35
Style: Still
Region: Douro Valley
Country: Portugal
Grape: Blend
Colour: White
Vegan: No
Organic: No
Biodynamic: No
Natural: Yes
Low Intervention: Yes
Luis Seabra
Ilimitado is akin to Seabra's village wine. This Branco comes from mica, schist, and feldspar soils (what winemaker Luis Seabra deems the best for whites), this is a field blend of Rabigato, Códega, Gouveio, Viosinho and more, with vines 30-60 years old, and at 400-500m in altitude. After crushing and destemming, the grapes are pressed together, native fermented, and aged in used French oak barrels for 1 year on lees, with no MLF or bâtonnage.
Perfumed pear blossom, gooseberry, green fig, and lemon are woven across the stony palate, tightened with grapefruit pith, and stretched long on the lingering, saline finish. Great energy here.
“The excellent "entry" point to Seabra's white portfolioi is composed mostly of Rabigato, with Arinto, Gouveio and Códega, from plots around Mêda at 500–700 m on classic Douro schist. It ages on full lees in barrels and partly in stainless steel, and in 2024 delivers a particularly appealing set of aromatics, notably floral, like apple and cherry blossoms, sweet citrus fruit, lemon, sweet green herbs and more in a complex and engaging ensemble. Long finish, too. Lovely stuff, drinking now. Tasted October 2026.” - 92 points, John Szabo, MS, WineAlign.com
“This is quite delicious, and ripe. The nose is plump with yellow fruit - peach/apricot, honeysuckle, vanilla and nutmeg from barrel ageing. There is a twinge of acetic just below the surface. Surprisingly the alcohol is only 12.5%. There is impressive gloss and richness here, yet Douro minerality and structure remain core. The length is excellent. Tasted October 2026.” - 92 points, David Lawrason, WineAlign.com
“Xisto Ilimitado has become the darling of sommeliers and their licensee lists to offer up a top echelon white field blend at a reasonable cost. The world of what it costs to purchase high quality wine today means that prices have risen, and by the glass options get tougher in this category. But Seabra’s was always the steal, and remains so, even at this above $35 price. Consistency thy name is Xisto, a multi-faceted, multifarious and layered Douro Valley silker inclusive of rabigato, côdega do larinho, gouveio and viosinho. A return to flesh, pulp and creamy texture never abandons the flint and smoulder. Still enthralling, vintage after vintage, yet never exactly the same. Drink 2026-2029. Tasted October 2026.” - 92 points, Michael Godel, WineAlign.com
Read about Luis Seabra
Vintage: 2024
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 12
Price per Bottle: $35
Style: Still
Region: Douro Valley
Country: Portugal
Grape: Blend
Colour: White
Vegan: No
Organic: No
Biodynamic: No
Natural: Yes
Low Intervention: Yes
Alexana Winery
Though named Terroir Series, this is a Willamette-wide blend of various soils and clones. The wine is a selection of barrels from the dry farmed younger blocks of the Revana vineyard in Dundee Hills, along with vineyards in Yamhill-Carlton, Eola-Amity, Chehalem Mountains, and McMinnville, and clones Pommard, 115, 777, Wadenswil, 667, La Tache, 943, 114, 828, Coury, and 113. Each lot is separately native fermented whole berry before aging 11 months in French oak (23% new). Forest, wild cherry, fresh moss, and pretty florals rule the silken palate, sided with fine, long tannins and finishing with a gently warming baking spice note. Quite polished and fresh, this medium bodied wine is drinking ideal now with any kind of mushroom / duck dishes.
“Vivacious and expressive, with sleek raspberry and cherry flavors laced with rose petal, orange peel and hints of forest floor as this sails on the long, supple finish. Drink now through 2030. 6,490 cases made.” - 93 points, Tim Fish, Wine Spectator
Read more about Alexana Winery here.
Vintage: 2021
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 6
Price per Bottle: $65
Style: Still
Region: Oregon
Appellation: Willamette Valley AVA
Country: USA
Grape: Pinot Noir
Colour: Red
Vegan: No
Organic: No
Biodynamic: No
Natural: No
Low Intervention: No
Minimus
Minimus
Chardonnay Dijon Free
No Dijon clones were harmed in the making of this wine. Though Dijon clones are prevalent throughout the Willamette, they wanted to create a wine using only heirloom clones. This used Calera, Old Wenté, Musqué, Mt. Eden, Mendoza, and spent 16 months in 30% new French oak. Showing beautiful evolution, but still shining, with shimmery lemon and a buzzy undercurrent livening yellow and green apple, pear skin, subtle toast on a layered palate. Polished and impressive, reflective of the striking potential for Willamette Chardonnay.
"Beautiful chardonnay, as rich, sumptuous and unctuous as one could want from the Willamette, but also this stony and flinty subtlety running through the wine's interior like a hidden treasure of a message. So graceful and gracious, clearly exulting a sense of vineyard pace and place coaxed graciously by the people who work to make this fruit so real and proper. Excellence incarnate for a "Dijon-free" clonal iteration of the standard variety, opted for and exulted instead by that which is truly local. Drink 2023-2027. Tasted November 2023.” - 94 points, Michael Godel, WineAlign.com
"The first chardonnay I have seen promoted as Dijon-free, a reference to the invasion of French Dijon clones in recent years. It uses more 'native' clonal stock instead - Calera, Wente, Musque and others - and signals a reversion to American chardonnay of old. Indeed the very ripe banana, floral and buttery/custardy notes, complete with oodles of clove/nutmeg barrel spice - does recall the 80s. It is full bodied, off-dry warm and very rich. The texture is quite silky and the heat is on, yet the acidity holds. All kinds of complexity and power here, with excellent to outstanding length. The name of the wine is given a signal to the style but it is oblique. Tasted November 2023" - 93 points, David Lawrason, WineAlign.com
"Work past the creepy front label, and the tongue-in-cheek "Dijon free" mention on the back label (a reference to the proliferation of the so-called Dijon clones of chardonnay, whose arrival and spread in the early 1990s signalled the beginning of serious quality chardonnay in Oregon), and get on to the serious wine contained within, one with marked barrel influence and rancid butter flavours in a classical style. The palate is fullish and intensely flavoured, with resinous oak notes and lemon curd, creme brulée flavours. One can't argue with the flavour intensity and concentration - off-the-charts high, and the superb length, bold, dense and powerful. Similar quality from Napa would command a far higher price. Drink or hold short term - I'd capture with the remaining fruit intact, even though it's anything but a fruity wine. Tasted November 2023.” - 93 points, John Szabo, MS, WineAlign.com
"Cheekily labelled as a "Dijon Free Chardonnay", this assemblage is made from only heirloom clones such as Calera, Old Wenté, Musqué, Mt. Eden and Mendoza that have matured for 16 months in 30% new French oak. Despite the fact that the oak is quite prevalent on the palate, the wine is not heavy and exhibits a great deal of lift from acidity. Aging gracefully, there is very little oxidation noted and the fruit is still generous on the palate. A pleasant degree of nuttiness has surfaced adding to the overall complexity. Showing a notable stamp of place and a low-intervention cleanliness. The label is a bit dark and enigmatic in contrast with the wine. Best now to 2027. Tasted November 2023." - 93 points, Sarah d'Amato, WineAlign.com
Vintage: 2017
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 12
Price per Bottle: $55
Style: Still
Region: Oregon
Appellation: Willamette Valley AVA
Country: USA
Grape: Chardonnay
Colour: White
Vegan: No
Organic: No
Biodynamic: No
Natural: No
Low Intervention: Yes