Dos Lusíadas Pinteivera Tinto 2021

Dos Lusíadas is the Douro project of French winegrower Michel Chapoutier, who brings the knowledge gained in the Rhône to the granite-rich soils of the Alto Douro. Pinteivera Tinto is a single-variety Touriga Nacional, the Douro's most prized red grape, drawn from old vines aged between 60 and 80 years. Where much of the Douro grows on schist, these granite soils give a more mineral, fresher profile, and the deep-rooted old vines yield small, concentrated crops with natural balance at 14 percent. The wine ages twelve months in French oak, which firms the structure and adds spice while letting the granite character show. The colour is deep, dense ruby. The nose is concentrated, with black plum and dark berry over violet, black pepper and a cool eucalyptus lift, framed by a stony minerality. The palate is full and structured, with firm, fine-grained tannin, fresh acidity and a long mineral finish carrying liquorice and oak spice. This is a wine with the grip to age. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees and decant an hour ahead. Match it with grilled and roasted red meat.