Antonio Madeira Dão A Palheira Tinto 2018
$86.00 inc. GST
António Madeira, who is French of Portuguese descent, has his roots in the foothills of Serra da Estrela. Since 2010, António Madeira has been researching, the places in this sub-region, that our ancestors elected as the best for vine, those that we might call the «Grands Crus of the Dão highlands» and found a series of old vines that are distinctive because of the authenticity of their grape varieties, the characteristics and nuances of their granite soils and sun exposures.
2018 was a very hard year, we lost 60% of our grapes, mainly because of 3 months of rain between mid-April and mid-July and also because of 4 days of hot winds of 45°C that burned 30% of our grapes. Harvest started on September 23rd.
2018 was also our first vintage in biodynamics.
A Palheira 2018 is a blend of 2 of the best old vineyards cultivated by Antonio, one 60 years old vine where the Baga dominates, and a 100 years old vine where pink granit gives a special character to the wine. The wines of these 2 vines where so good in 2018 that we decided to bottle it separetly from the others old vineyards that usuallu goes to the blend of « Vinhas Velhas » red wine. So A Palheira 2018 shows the best results that we achieve in 2018 reds.
Description
The vinification philosophy was to respect the grapes and nature and focus on seeking the expression of the terroir of Serra da Estrela, thus, no other product was used except sulphur.
Alcoholic fermentation took place in open vats (lagar) and began naturally, with the indigenous yeasts to express its identity in the purest form.
Very little extraction was sought. After pressing, the wine was placed directly into used French oak barrels, where malolactic fermentation took place until the following spring and where it aged for 18 months.
The bottling was carried out in July 2020.
Pure, great identity, complex, granite wrapped fresh red fruit, white cherry, flowers, sensations of aromatic herbs, pine forest. Deep, fresh and tasty mouth, silky tannins, finesse. Endless mineral finish.
