2021 Antonio Madeira Tinto Dao, Portugal

The grapes are from small local growers that work without herbicides. The vine age is a mix from young to some very old. There are more than 20 varieties in this wine but the main ones are: Alfrocheiro, Baga and Jaen. Fruit is from growers that practice organics. Antonio’s team, though, does the harvest so that it is done in small baskets of 15 kg and also so that a first sort is done in the vineyard only harvesting the best bunches. The grapes are destemmed and pressed and undergo a prefermentative cold maceration for 4-5 days to gain aromatics. This is done in stainless steel.. The musts are then allowed to warm up and native yeast fermentation begins. Pump overs are done at a rate of 1 per day for the 12-14 day fermentation. The wines are aged in used French oak 400, 500 or 600L barrels for 2 winters to naturally stabalize and clarify the wines.