PARRAS WINES | Evidência | Reserva | Encruzado | Dão | 2020
encruzado

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Parras Wines, led by the visionary Luís Vieira, has a remarkable history rooted deeply in portuguese winemaking. Founded in 2010, the company quickly established its presence on the portuguese wine map, aiming for a contemporary appeal in the international market. Luís Vieira’s lineage in wine runs deep, with both his father and grandfather being winemakers. Their vision is to craft wines that reflect Portugal’s rich terroir while being accessible and appreciated globally.
Today we are going to review a single varietal encruzado wine that comes from from the famous, sun-drenched Dão region of Portugal – Evidência Reserva Encruzado Dão 2020 by Parras Wines. Encruzado is widely regarded as Portugal’s finest indigenous white grape variety and the undisputed star of the Dão region, where it produces some of the country’s most elegant and ageworthy white wines. Encruzado combines richness of texture with remarkable freshness, achieving a balance that few other white varieties can match. While expressive in youth, this grape variety is particularly prized for its ability to mature gracefully over many years, gaining complexity without losing its vibrant acidity. Depending on the winemaking approach, it can be vinified in two major styles – from crisp, unoaked wines made for precision and varietal authenticity, to barrel-fermented examples with burgundian-like depth and aromatic sophistication. Today’s wine is from the second category – fermented in stainless steel vats and aged in French oak barrels to add structure and complexity – a fully mature white wine of amazing complexity. This careful oak ageing maturation is crucial for imparting extra structure, complexity, and a luxurious creamy texture to the wine, perfectly aligning with the encruzado‘s varietal characteristics.

The Dão wine region is sheltered by the surrounding mountain ranges of Serra da Estrela, Serra do Caramulo, and Serra da Nave, and is one of the country’s most famous historic wine regions. Its granite-rich soils, interspersed with pockets of schist, provide excellent drainage and encourage deep root systems, while vineyard elevations ranging mainly between 400 and 700 m.a.s.l. contribute to the freshness and elegance of the wines produced here. The climate is best described as Mediterranean with continental influences, characterized by warm and dry summers, with cold winters, and a significant diurnal temperature range that promotes slow and even ripening of the grapes, thus preserving natural acidity. The Dão and Mondego river valleys create a mosaic of microclimates, allowing a diverse range of grape varieties to thrive. Encruzado is the region’s flagship white variety, producing complex, mineral-driven wines with remarkable ageing potential, while Touriga Nacional is the leading red grape, yielding bold and structured wines with subtle floral notes and fine-grained tannins.

color: deep yellow color
clarity: topaz-yellow hues

In the glass, the wine presents a quite deep yellow color, hinting at richness and concentration. At the rim of the glass, the wine displays topaz yellow shades – a cue that hints at both the wine’s intrinsic density and its journey through time.

intensity: rich & nuanced
fruit character: dried & dehydrated

On the nose, the wine is rich and nuanced, revealing a compelling profile dominated by dried and dehydrated fruit characters. In the foreground, a bouquet of ripe orchard fruits unfolds, featuring quince, apple, and asian pear, beautifully intertwined with more concentrated notes of dried quince and dried apple. Adding layers of exotic complexity are mesmerizing hints of cantaloupe, goji berry, and yellow raspberry, which truly capture the olfactory senses. As the wine breathes, the background gracefully reveals refreshing citrus notes of lemon and lemon peel, complemented by delicate herbal nuances of hay, wheat, and nettle. Further depth is provided by rich secondary and tertiary aromas, including crème brûlée, the subtle warmth of sun-dried oakwood, and the sweet, waxy essence of beeswax and honeycomb, all harmoniously integrated as a testament to its thoughtful oak aging and development, complemented by hints of cashew and almonds, suggestive of the wine’s age.

sweetness: dry | acidity: medium+ | alcohol: high | tannin: high  | balance: good
finish: long | aftertaste: bitter-crisp

The palate is remarkably rich and nuanced, delivering a full and expansive mouthfeel, characteristic of an ample and full-bodied white wine. A subtle touch of oxidation lends an additional layer of depth and character, contributing to its complexity. This is a remarkably well-structured wine, beautifully balanced by a fresh herbal nuance that emerges on the palate. The wine feels dry, supported by crisp acidity that provides freshness and grants a persistent, lingering finish. A noticeable alcoholic warmth contributes to its full-bodied body, further enhanced by bitter-seedy tannins on the finish, culminating in a long, seedy-crisp aftertaste that leaves a long lasting impression.

maturity: in its prime | drink now or within the next 6 months
verdict: great | a benchmark wine | a wine that has all the traits to become legendary

All in all, this is a truly remarkable oak-aged white wine, with an unmistakable old-world charm. It boasts a complex citrusy-herbal aromatic profile, leading to a distinct bitter-seedy mouthfeel, beautifully countered by crispy freshness, and concluding with a long, bitter-seedy finale. This wine leans towards a stylistic resemblance of an old-world oaked Chardonnay, perhaps slightly veiling the more pristine, mineral-driven elegance often associated with the Dão’s granite terroir. Nevertheless, it demonstrates very good varietal typicity of the Encruzado grape variety, highlighting the grape’s incredible potential for richness and age-worthiness. This wine is currently in its prime form, ready to be enjoyed today, with the capacity to develop even greater aromatic sophistication within the next 6 months.

To complement the rich and complex aromatic profile of this wine, we recommend a food pairing that can stand up to its intensity, while harmonizing with its creamy texture and crisp acidity. Consider a classic Coq au Vin Blanc, where the rich chicken and creamy sauce would beautifully echo the wine’s body and oak notes, while its acidity would cuts through the richness of the dish. Alternatively, pan-seared scallops with a brown butter and sage sauce would create a congruent pairing, enhancing the wine’s subtle oxidative hints and nutty undertones. For something unique, try pairing it with a traditional portuguese Bacalhau à Brás (cod with scrambled eggs, potatoes, and onions) – the savory depth of the cod and the comforting texture of the eggs would beautifully meld with the wine’s complexity and length, creating an exquisite dining experience that truly elevates both the dish and the wine. Cheers!

PARRAS WINES | Evidência | Reserva | Encruzado | Dão | 2020
variety: encruzado
country: Portugal
region: Dão
rating: 94.3

A truly defining moment, which Luís Vieira now recounts with humor, occurred at the tender age of five when he fell into a wine vat, narrowly escaping a drowning thanks to a quick-thinking family collaborator. He often refers to this incident as his ‘baptism in the wanderings of wine’ – a testament to his innate connection and passion for viticulture that has shaped Parras Wines into the acclaimed producer it is today.


© The WineStatistics ratings are based solely on our own knowledge of the world of wine and on our personal wine tastes, which may, or may not, differ from yours – the reader. Just remember that there are no absolutes of right and wrong in wine appreciation. Cheers!