Quinta dos Carvalhais Unico Dao Tinto 2020
Quinta dos Carvalhais Unico Dao Tinto
Region: Dão, Portugal
Vintage: 2020
Bottle size: 75cl
Grape: Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro, Jaen Tinto, Tinta Pinheira, Tinta Roriz
ABV: 14.5%
Notes: Vegetarian, Sustainable
The wine is deep purple in colour. On the nose it has intense aromas of blackberry, bramble and forest berries married with a smoky spiciness and hints of pine needle and forest floor. Grippy but deliciously ripe tannins and a refreshing acidity provide plenty of structure on the palate and carry the concentrated and intense flavours onto the wonderfully lingering finish.
This 105-hectare property, situated at an altitude of 465-500 metres above sea level, has 50 hectares under vine. Warm days and cool nights at this altitude slow down the grape ripening process and result in wines with lovely depth yet vibrant fruit and a signature freshness. The vineyards are planted on poor granite soils with a predominance of indigenous Dão varieties including Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro and Encruzado. Microzoning studies have been carried out on the estate, identifying nine different soil types and a multitude of different microclimates, and each grape variety has been matched to its ideal plot. All of the vineyards are farmed sustainably and harvesting is carried out by hand.
Special plots were identified in the vineyard by Beatriz and the grapes were harvested into 20kg boxes by grape variety and by plot and vinified separately in stainless-steel tanks. After de-stemming and crushing, alcoholic fermentation took place at an average temperature of 28°C and lasted for eight days. Following this, the wines underwent a post-fermentation maceration on the skins for ten days. The wines were aged in new and used French oak barrels for 24 months, during which time numerous tastings were conducted to determine which barrels would make it into the final blend. After the final assemblage, the wine underwent gentle fining and filtration and was aged a further 2 years in bottle prior to release.
Quinta dos Carvalhais is located in the Terras de Senhorim sub-region, in the heart of the Dão. The 105-hectare estate, with 50 hectares under vine, was purchased by the Guedes family in 1988. They invested a huge amount into improvements in both the vineyards and the winery – and are credited with spearheading the quality renaissance of wines from the Dão in the early ‘90s. Following decades of state control and a co-operative monopoly in the region that favoured quantity over quality, they replanted the region’s indigenous grape varieties, such as Touriga Nacional and Encruzado, and saved them from near extinction.
https://quintadoscarvalhais.com