2019 Quinta da Pellada ‘Primus’, Dao, Portugal

Primus Branco is an old vine field blend harvested from a single high-altitude parcel at over 500m (1,500 ft) elevation. Comprised of 19+ indigenous white grape varieties, Primus is a rare creature, and a delicious throwback to the traditional field blends of the Do. Grapes include Encruzado, Cercial, Bical, Verdelho, Mlvasia, Terrantez, Cachorrinho, Douradinha, etc. planted to granite with lines of quartz, clay and sand at 500m (1,640 ft) elevation. The see a 24 hour maceration and a very slow cold fermentation, first in stainless steel tanks and then in used barrels. The wine aged for 9 months in concrete eggs on the lees with no additional sulfur. wo additional years of levage in bottle prior to release.