Quinta dos Carvalhais, Dão Encruzado 2022

Quinta dos Carvalhais’s single-variety wines are complex blends of different plots on the estate, vinified separately before blending. The Encruzado, partially fermented and aged for eight months in French oak barrels of varying sizes, marries the vibrancy of this variety with delicious toasty notes from the oak. The Touriga Nacional showcases this prized indigenous variety's signature black fruit and violet characters alongside a well-integrated spiciness from 12 months in French oak. The Branco Reserva is a blend of Encruzado and Gouveio aged for 18 months in used French oak. It balances the citrus-fruit freshness of both varieties with a savoury complexity derived from time in barrel. The Tinto Reserva is a blend of Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro and Tinta Roriz aged for 12 months in a combination of new and used French oak. It is a rich and sumptuous wine with pronounced black fruit aromas, polished tannins and a lingering finish. The 2022 vintage in the Dão was characterised by hot and dry conditions. Winter rains were significantly lower than usual and there was a heatwave in July with peak temperatures of 43°C. Meticulous attention to detail was required in the vineyards throughout the growing cycle to help the vines withstand the heat and drought, but the older vines with deeper root systems coped relatively well throughout. The harvest at Quinta dos Carvalhais began on 23rd August and ended on 26th September. The berries were smaller than usual, resulting in wines with great concentration of flavour, and, despite the hot and dry year, the wines still have the characteristic freshness of the Dão. Bright yellow in colour with intense aromas of peach and nectarine, as well as floral notes of jasmine and orange blossom, with hints of cedar to tie the nose together. The palate is crisp and intense, with bright flavours of peach and florals coming to the forefront. This wine is well-integrated and reflects the ageing in oak barrels, to invite a balanced and persistent finish.  ABV 13%