Susana Esteban “Vinyle” 2023

The Land

Vinyle Branco 2023 originates from a century-old vineyard in the Serra de São Mamede, the northernmost and most elevated zone of Alentejo in southern Portugal. This is a landscape unlike the rest of the region—marked by granite outcrops, dense forest, and cooler microclimates shaped by altitude and Atlantic influence. The old vines here, adapted over decades to this rugged terrain, produce fruit with subtlety and nerve. It’s a far cry from the broad-shouldered whites often associated with Alentejo; instead, this wine carries the quiet tension of a place where sun and mountain air meet.

The Wine

The 2023 was fermented and aged in two 500-liter barrels that carry a remarkable lineage: first used by Champagne producer Emmanuel Lassaigne to vinify freerun juice from one of his finest cuvées, then repurposed by Susana for her Sidecar project in 2020, and now infused with new character through this Alentejo white. The result is a wine of quiet complexity. On the nose, it’s delicate and understated—citrus zest, crushed stones, white flowers, and a whisper of brioche. The palate is textured yet pretty, balancing Serra de São Mamede’s mineral precision with a subtle roundness from the barrel’s past lives. There’s no overt oak—only a faint echo of Champagne elegance that adds shape and depth without stealing the spotlight.

The People

Susana Esteban has always worked at the intersection of rigor and curiosity. After years crafting structured reds in the Douro, she found a new voice in the wilds of Alentejo—especially in its cooler, less-traveled northern reaches. Vinyle is a tribute to her longtime friend and collaborator Emmanuel Lassaigne, whose deep love of music and vinyl inspired both the name and the spirit of the wine. What began as a playful exchange of barrels has become something deeper: a project rooted in friendship, craftsmanship, and shared sensibilities. Like a favorite record—warm, textured, and full of nuance—this wine reveals something new with every pour.