Winemaking:
Throughout the harvest, the maturation rhythms were closely and meticulously monitored so that each plot and each variety was harvested separately, taking into account its location and individual characteristics. In 2017, Aragonez was harvested on August 21st, earlier than usual. Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional only arrived at the winery on September 11th, while Alicante Bouschet arrived from Perdigões on September 14th and from Lavradores on September 29th. After the harvest, the Aragonez grapes started fermentation in marble vats (troughs) with foot treading before going to concrete vats for malolactic fermentation and later transferred to 5000 liter tanks for aging. Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional were fermented together in foot-treaded marble vats and then transferred to 500 liter French oak barrels, 2nd year, for malolactic fermentation and aging for 18 months. The grapes from both Alicante Bouschet plots were fermented separately in concrete vats. Malolactic fermentation took place in new 500 liter French oak barrels, where it aged for 18 months. 18 months in 500 liter French oak barrels, new and 2nd use or in 5000 liter tanks. Three more years of bottle aging followed.
Grape Varieties:
Alicante Bouschet, Touriga Nacional, Aragonez, Touriga Franca
Tasting Notes:
Dense color, almost opaque. Complex and concentrated with notes of blue fruits plus dark chocolate liqueur, licorice and a touch of fresh mint. Very well integrated notes of spice and oak. In the mouth it is deep, compact, creamy, dense and precise, with a satin texture, with a long finish full of character.
Store and serve advice:
Serve at a temperature of 16-18ºC.
Food Pairing:
This wine goes well with red meat, roast beef and grilled meats.
Allergens:
Contains sulfites.