Harvest Report:
After a long, cold and rainy winter, spring arrived with the average rainfall for the year fulfilled – about 400 mm. This situation allowed an earlier than normal but fantastic bud break, with a promising yield in view. The rainy days occurred throughout the spring causing some downy mildew risks, not significant in this estate, but causing severe damage in the region. The water levels in the soil after a rainy winter and spring allowed the plants to go through summer without severe stress, but the early bud break date forced us to start the harvest on the 23rd of August. A few days later we had 15 mm of rain in two consecutive days, which was beneficial to balance the maturation of Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca, picked in the second week of September. Up to the end of the vintage we have enjoyed perfect weather, sunny and mild, which allowed us to harvest slowly and to choose the ideal timing for picking the different varieties
Grape varieties:
55% Touriga Nacional, 34% Touriga Franca, 6% Tinta Barroca and 5% Tinta Roriz.
Vinification:
After being crushed, the grapes were cooled down and trodden by foot during four hours in granite lagares and then transferred to small refrigerated stainless steel vinifying vats. Each grape variety is vinified separately. All the wine was matured in French Allier oak barriques (225 litres). 80% new and 20% second usage.
Tasting Notes:
Very concentrated in colour. Deep and complex nose with lots of aromatic nuances, yet maintaining the balance between them. In the mouth it is vibrant, in a set of great elegance, showing an excellent integration of the wood, a surprisingly large variety of flavours, and a very long aftertaste.
97 points Wine Spectator’s
4º place Wine Spectator’s Top 100 of 2014
