From a super low-yielding old vineyard plot that Miguel once thought about tearing out, this Douro field-blend is seriously exciting if still very young.
Open on the nose, filled with roasted herb, violets and ink. Velvety wild berry fruit on the attack, with spine-tingling, life-enhancing acidity which unfolds to quite a tannic punch – but the tannins are sappy and nutty (not oaky).
Wonderfully typical Douro flavours and aromas, a serious yet elegant wine just at the beginning of its life.
I kept this open for two days, and on day two the tannins had integrated a bit more. Cellar for 2-3 years more for maximum pleasure.
The vineyard apparently has some 20 varieties growing in it, including Tinta Roriz, Tinta da Carvalha, Tinto da Barca, Alicante Bouschet and of course Touriga Nacional.
The winemaker is Luis Seabra. Grapes were foot-trodden, wild fermented with 60% whole cluster, and the wine aged for 21 months in French oak barrels (the oak influence is very subtle, no flavour impact at all).