Quinta do Monte Xisto "Órbita" Douro Tinto '22

One can not have a serious discussion about the wines of the Douro Valley without including the Nicolau de Almeida family. João Nicolau de Almeida, who's mother's family once owned the majority of the Ramos Pinto Port house, joined the Ramos Pinto team in 1976. Through his almost 40 year career with the company he was an instrumental figure in the emergence of table wines and increase in quality as a whole. He along with José António Ramos Pinto Rosas helped identify the five recommended varieties of the region. He introduced the vertical vines to the Douro, and along the way was the director of two important Port-centric associations. 

Another important "accomplishment" in João's life are his two son's João and Mateus, along with his daughter Mafalda. The four together, are all involved in a dream "project" called Quinta do Monte Xisto. Over the course of 15 years, João purchased 20 parcels of what would become known as Quinta do Monte Xisto. Located at the mouth of the Côa River, near the town of Vila Nova de Foz Côa, "Schist Mountain" is 40 hectares in total, with 10 hectares planted to a mixture of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Souzão. It is one of only two vineyards in all of Douro Superior that have both north and south facing vineyards. This is in large part what makes Monte Xisto so special, and as a wine, so balanced. 

João has worked this vineyard since the beginning based on organic and biodynamic practices. It is an incredibly labor intensive vineyard. The wine is produced at a winery just down the road, which has been carved out of schist. It isn't fancy, but it allows the family to produce the wine with tradition. 

Monte Xisto produces three red wines in their line-up. “Órbita” is a blend of several varieties and plots from Quinta do Monte Xisto (30% of a mixed variety plot and 70% of Touriga Nacional), with different sun exposures that surround, orbit the Quinta’s vineyard area. Looking for a less extracted wine, with less wood, another version of Quinta do Monte Xisto maintaining the dominant characteristics of its terroir: complexity, structure and elegance.

The grapes were harvested manually and transported to the cellar (located in Vila Nova de Foz Côa, Douro) in 20kg boxes. The fermentation took place in a cement vat with indigenous yeasts. This was followed by an 18 month stage in cement vats and 600 liter barrels in the warehouse in Vila Nova de Gaia, close to the sea, with optimal temperature and humidity conditions.

The resulting wine is a beautifully balanced, medium-bodied red with notes of red fruit, mineral and spice. This is one of the great wines of the Douro Superior.