`Castas Escondidas` Douro Tinto 2019

Portugal 

2019

Deep ruby in colour. On the nose, intense and elegant aromas of fresh red and black fruits are married with spicy notes of pepper and cinnamon and hints of balsamic. On the palate, smooth and polished tannins create a velvety mouth feel, and a bright acidity carries the intense flavours onto the long and elegant finish.

Vinification

Upon arrival at the winery, the majority of the grapes were destemmed and crushed and moved to small stainless-steel vats for fermentation at controlled temperatures by variety. Around 20% of the grapes underwent whole-bunch fermentation. Following fermentation, the wines were moved to used 225-litre French oak barrels and aged in cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia for around 18 months. During this period, the wines underwent careful analysis and several tastings by Luís and the winemaking team and the final blend was assembled from a selection of the best barrels and then fined and filtered prior to bottling in May 2021.