Quinta Vila Rachel Esboço “Monte Carpinteiro” 2020

Quinta Vila Rachel makes Esboco Monte Carpinteiro in the Douro of northern Portugal, from a field blend of Touriga Nacional, Viosinho, Gouveio, Codega do Larinho and Tinta Carvalha. The Douro is built on steep schist terraces, a heat-retaining, free-draining stone that forces vines deep for water and lends the wines their mineral, stony backbone. While the region is best known for ripe, powerful reds, this cuvee is picked for freshness and finishes at a modest 12.5% alcohol. It is farmed organically and made naturally, then aged twelve months in stainless steel followed by twenty-four months in bottle. The inert steel preserves the bright primary fruit and floral aromatics, while the long bottle age before release softens and integrates the wine. The colour is a bright medium ruby. The nose shows red cherry, raspberry and violet, with a clear schist minerality. The palate is light to medium bodied, fresh and finely structured, the tannins gentle and the finish dry and stony. This is the Douro in a fresh, lifted register. Serve at 14 to 15 degrees, lightly cool. It is good across lighter meats and vegetables.