From over 80-year-old vines grown high up in the Alijo region of Cima Corgo, the grapes were lightly foot trodden and then fermented in various batches, some with stems, some whole bunch, some just berries.
Tight, wiry and quite thrilling fruit – redcurrant, perfumed raspberry, a hint of woodsmoke and pepper. Tannic, but not oppressively so.
There’s a rasp of herbal freshness to this, which feels very characteristics of the Douro. The tannins have that lovely sappy quality – it’s a bit like chewing on a raspberry cane.
The fruit is really pure, and unfettered by oak or anything else. An exciting wine with real Douro personality, and a fascinating comparison to the much bigger, beefier style preferred by many more traditional producers.
Aged for 24 months in used barriques and tonneau (225 and 500 lt)