Castelão

Regional Wine Alentejo

Harvest

2018

Grape varieties

100% Castelão. Castelão is a grape variety from the ancient Alentejo vineyard, sister to Moreto and daughters of the cross of the Sarigo x Alfrocheiro Preto varieties.

Concept

A 100% Castelão. A disconcerting wine, which demonstrates the role of this grape variety in the old vineyards of Alentejo. Freshness and purity.

The vineyard "ground of the hermits

Vineyard age: 51 years

Altitude: 256-267m

Soils: Granite - Litholic Non Humic soils of granite origin, are poorly evolved soils, formed, sandy texture, without aggregates, slightly acid.

Location: Located at the southern foot of Serra d'Ossa.

History: This place is special, you can feel it! Two streams bring the rainwater from the Serra keeping the ground cool in the torrid Alentejo heat, never lowering the water table below 5 meters. It was here that the vineyards were formerly planted, and the place was known as the Chão dos Eremitas, "Chão" being the ancient term for a flat area, and "Eremitas" referring to the Hermit monks of the Order of St. Paul. Here there is evidence of uninterrupted wine production since the 14th century, the vineyard was so important that a Papal Bull in 1397 exempts the "Pauperes Hermitas" from paying tributes (taxes) on their vineyards. But archeology goes further, as the discovery of the only Phoenician wine amphora in the interior of the country, dating from the 8th century BC, links this place to wine about 900 years before the arrival of the Romans, in what amounts to 3,000 years of wine-related history.

Viticulture

Grapes under certified integrated production without the use of herbicides.

Vinification

The grapes are selected in a selection table, 30% whole bunch of 70% destemmed, fall by gravity into the vat. Spontaneous fermentation, 35 days of tanning and 18 months in barrels.

Tasting Notes

Fragile ruby garnet color. Very fine aroma, with notes of plum, tobacco and spices, in the tasting the attack is medium-bodied with good freshness. The texture mounts in the middle of the tasting, all in elegance, ends with present and firm tannins.

Gastronomy

A red wine with good acidity, good complex fat fishes and pot meats.

Conservation and Service

Keep at 14ºC to be served at 16ºC and drink at 18ºC.

Sulfites

SO2<60 mg/L (organic wine sulfite limit <100 mg/L; biodynamic wine sulfite limit <70mg/L)

Alcohol

14% Vol.

Production

997 numbered 0.75L bottles released in June 2021.