This is their second attempt at making a Vintage Port-style from the Malgas vineyards using Port varieties planted on the property. This vintage includes Touriga Nacional, Tinta Amarella and Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo).

The complex stony soils, together with a warm dry climate moderated by constant sea breezes provides an ideal terroir to produce something unique. Most of the soils have about 60mm round pudding stones on the surface with weathered schist in the subsoil. All vines are grown as bush vines due to the exceptional low yield and vigour.

One of the earlier starts to harvest and one of the driest growing seasons with a record low of 180mm rainfall in 2019. Warm and dry weather at the beginning of the ripening season, with occasional rain toward the end of harvest. The moderate weather with cool nights continued throughout the harvest period producing wines with excellent acidities. Small crop of great quality.

Two to three double rows of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Amarella and Tinta Roriz bush vines a week later than the rest. The team go in and sort by hand. A few raisins are left in the bunches, only removing any rot or bird-pecked berries. The bunches are destemmed and crushed and a few stalks are added back to the fermenting bin. A few whole bunches of Tinta Amarella was added to this vintage. A cooling unit added for a few hours to prolong skin contact. The grapes are foot-treaded every 4 hours to ensure maximum extraction in a gentle manner. The grapes are gently pressed into a 300L barrel, and once in barrel it is fortified with wine spirits. It spends 2 years in a 2nd fill 300L barrel. Unfined, unfiltered and bottled by hand.

Beautifully spiced, full fruit, yet has a very earthy and dusty flavour. Youthful and rather vinous, but has a serious component, which will knit into a powerhouse. A beautifully balanced vintage Port of fruit meets more intense components, creating a harmonious drink.

ANALYSIS: ALC 20% | RS 93.3 g/l | TA 4.5 g/l | pH 3.84