Rubrica Tinto 2021

Grape Varieties: Alicante Bouschet, Touriga Nacional, Petit Verdot, Aragonez, Syrah e Tinta Miúda.

Soils: Of granite/schist origin, clay loam structure.

Climate: Continental Mediterranean. High daily temperatures in the summer months, good summer temperature range.

Tasting Notes: With a beautiful violet color of good concentration, Rubrica red presents an aromatic profile on the nose, austere and full of character, complemented by more complex notes of spices and mint. In the mouth it is rich in concentrated black fruit flavors and has a firm structure, with well-present tannins and a refreshing acidity. Medium long finish, of notable elegance.

Vinification: The grapes were harvested by hand and transported in 15kg boxes to the cellar entrance, where they were carefully selected on a sorting table. The selected grapes were partially de-stemmed and crushed. The different grape varieties were fermented separately, in order to extract the maximum potential from each of them. Fermentation took place, on average, for 15 days, in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures (25-28 ºC). In the fermentations of the six varieties, pumping over was carried out daily and whenever necessary.

Ageing: Malolactic fermentation and aging in new French oak barrels during 12 months.

Serving Suggestions: It is ideal to accompany Mediterranean dishes, such as grilled octopus or cod à lagareiro. Also very good for game dishes, such as partridge or wild boar stew.

Serving Temperature: Serve between 16-18ºC. Decant beforehand. This wine improves substantially with an hour's prior airing.

Winemaker: Luís Duarte