VINEYARD
Vineyard plots planted between 1932 and 1970, with a density of 8,850 plants per hectare. Situated on the steep slopes of the Pinhão River at an altitude of 300 m, with shale soils that are poor and rough; low yield but with grapes of high concentration and quality.
2016 HARVEST
A very challenging campaign, with each grape variety and plot revealing itself at its own pace, which required very close monitoring. The wine year started in a positive way with a wet winter. In the spring, the above-normal temperatures advanced the growing cycle by about 10 days. However, some challenges appeared with rainy weather that lasted through April and May, with precipitation levels three times higher than those in recent years. June and July saw the return of more typical seasonal weather, but there were major heatwaves in August that slowed the ripening cycle, putting the vines under great stress. The much-desired August rainfall fell rather timidly at the end of the month (7 mm), but it made the difference precisely in the vineyards where it was most needed. The weather was exceptionally good throughout the harvest, which allowed perfect maturation to proceed. The harvest then started on September 23, giving rise to very fresh and elegant wines with great concentration.
VINIFICATION
Fresh grapes at their ideal point of ripeness are picked by hand and placed in 20 kg boxes. After careful sorting by hand, destemming and gentle treading in small vats, the grapes underwent five days of cold maceration. Fermentation with indigenous yeasts began slowly, taking place over 10 days with daily delestage. Afteralcoholic fermentation, the wine underwent skin maceration for 30 days. The wine was aged for 16 months in new French oak casks. Only 2,600 numbered bottles were produced, from the best barrels of the batch.
TASTING NOTES
Dark red, dense and concentrated colour. Great aromatic complexity, ripe fruit, with notes of blackberries, black cherries, mocha, chocolate and coffee, with the wood being very nicely married to the fruit. In the mouth it is dense, with firm tannins and a lively acidity that gives it freshness and longevity.
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