Dao
António Madeira "Colheita" Dão Tinto '18
António Madeira’s wines are among the best that show the immense potential of the Dão region and the outstanding values that come from there. Antonio, who is French of Portuguese descent, works with vineyards found on free-draining granite soils of the Serra do Estrela, the highest mountain range in Portugal. He believes the heart of Dão lies in this mountainous region, and that the fine, fresh, mineral wines you can produce here—which he refers to as the grands crus of the Dão highlands—have great aging potential. He started researching the region in earnest in 2010 and discovered plots of old vines of native varieties. This viticultural heritage, combined with the granite soils and excellent sun exposures, makes these sites distinct. He found a neglected 50-year-old vineyard in the Serra da Estrela foothills, which he recuperated and used to produce his first wine in 2011. He farms organically and works with too many grape varieties to name. All of his wines are field blends and cofermented, as he believes that if they were planted that way, it was for a reason.
A blend of Alfrocheiro and Touriga Nacional, this is Antonio Madeira’s flagship red and is emblematic of his expression of the Dão: fresh, drinkable, structured, elegant, and delicious. Grapes are hand harvested, and winemaking is gentle, as António aims for minimal extraction and a vin de soif style. The grapes are fermented in open-top vats with indigenous yeasts. The wine ages for 18 months in used French 225-liter oak barrels, and 3 months in stainless steel tank. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
The 2018 “Colheita,” shows a great balance of dark-fruited notes, earth, and spice, with a hint of violet and black pepper. The palate shows bright acidity and fine tannins, with complexity and depth gained from the old vines. It’s a wine that is sometimes described as being similar to cru Beaujolais in its character and freshness, perhaps a result of the similarity in granite soils.
Serve it with a slight chill, and enjoy it with almost anything, from grilled foods to spicier dishes or a simple charcuterie plate.
A blend of Alfrocheiro and Touriga Nacional, this is Antonio Madeira’s flagship red and is emblematic of his expression of the Dão: fresh, drinkable, structured, elegant, and delicious. Grapes are hand harvested, and winemaking is gentle, as António aims for minimal extraction and a vin de soif style. The grapes are fermented in open-top vats with indigenous yeasts. The wine ages for 18 months in used French 225-liter oak barrels, and 3 months in stainless steel tank. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
The 2018 “Colheita,” shows a great balance of dark-fruited notes, earth, and spice, with a hint of violet and black pepper. The palate shows bright acidity and fine tannins, with complexity and depth gained from the old vines. It’s a wine that is sometimes described as being similar to cru Beaujolais in its character and freshness, perhaps a result of the similarity in granite soils.
Serve it with a slight chill, and enjoy it with almost anything, from grilled foods to spicier dishes or a simple charcuterie plate.
Perman
Portugal
Details
| Producer | António Madeira |