The 2015 Branco CV is an old vines (over 80 years) field blend, aged for nine months in French oak (80% new and 20% second use). This is potentially a brilliant Branco in the making. It was wholly unevolved when seen this summer in Porto, just before bottling, but it has all the earmarks of a great white. Showing exceptional concentration and equally good structure, this has the intensity and power to support and lift the concentrated fruit. Its only flaw at the moment is that it shows too much oak, but as noted with some of the others here, that's to be expected when it was not even yet bottled. It has the structure and mid-palate to pull it in. This has the potential to age well, but let's be a bit conservative just now. It should also improve with a couple of years of cellaring, at the least, so don't dive in right away. As an aside, I couldn't easily decide whether I liked this or the Vinha de Martim (also reviewed) more. That, perhaps, showed a bit more zing and this a bit more concentration, but they both do everything well. I would give this CV the nod for the moment, though.
(WA 31st Aug 2016)
