Textura Wines from Julia Harding’s perspective

Julia Harding, Master of Wine (MW) and senior editor of the renowned website JancisRobinson.com, is renowned for her meticulous and insightful wine reviews. Recently, several wines have been highlighted, praised for their purity, complexity, and distinctive character.

1. Pura Branco 2022 – JR 17.5

“Even less fruity than Textura da Estrela 2022, more stony/limestone and salty, with a slight hint of flint. But there is still lime and lime leaf with a touch of grapefruit purity. Full-bodied in the mouth, more evidence of oak than in Textura da Estrela, but it is by no means an oaky wine. Pure as its name suggests, fresh, penetrating, and with a long, salty, mouthwatering finish. The oak and slight reduction note frame the charming fruit.

2. Pura Tinto 2021 – JR 17.5

“Medium garnet with a soft rim. Delicate, open, and fragrant with wild red fruits, herbs, and an impression of wild scrubland (the Portuguese equivalent of the garrigue of southern France). Tart like cranberry, but seductive like wild strawberry. Finely modulated tannins are chewy but smooth, even caressing, more chalky as they develop in the mouth, but still providing enough structure for the wild, spicy fruit. Muscular, long, and delicious. Pure in name and pure in nature.”

3. Vinha Negrosa Red 2020 – JR 17

“Deep red. Fragrant and spicy, the dark fruits exude freshness even before being tasted. High acidity, finely dry texture, resulting in a refined, dry, mouthwatering ensemble, with almost chalky tannins in its dry texture, which accumulate in the mouth with each sip. Although the tannins are very fine, this wine currently has a youthful texture that, in my opinion, would benefit from another year in the bottle, and will age for much longer. At the moment, the flavor is a little austere—a kind of bold, vigorous, and lean quality—but I think it will evolve into elegance.”

4. Textura da Estrela Branco 2022 – JR 17

“Immediately more intense than Pretexto 2023 and less fruity, more stony. But there is still a penetrating freshness of citrus and cedar lime. A very light impression of cedar and a touch of peppery spices. Intense, but difficult to analyze. On the palate, round but with slight friction in the texture, it fills the mouth but descends to a fresh and precise finish, with a very slight toasty aftertaste, although it is the opposite of a wine with oak notes. Even with the bright citrus flavors, there is also something more savory/salty.

5. Textura da Estrela Tinta Pinheira Red 2022 – JR 16.5

“Medium garnet with a soft rim. Beautifully and subtly fragrant, with vibrant red fruits and a hint of vanilla (but not the intense, dominant vanilla you get in some oak barrels). But there is also a dustier/mineral note that is even more evident in the dry, fine, chalky tannins. Incredible freshness, dry chalky texture. Lean but fragrant and surprisingly long. A refined version of this often rustic variety. The tannins have been extremely well handled to give a dry, chalky texture, but without astringency.

6. Pretexto Branco 2023 – JR 16.5

“Grapefruit, lemon, fresh herbs, very pure and a striking creamy impression from the lees aging. Dry, slightly chewy, it captures the attention and offers intense freshness with a tart and fresh finish – even though the acidity is not particularly high.”