Antonio Madeira Vinho Tinto 2022

Grape: Jaen, Alfrocheiro, Baga, Touriga Nacional, and over 20 native varieties
Vintage: 2022
Type: Red

Sourced from small, biodynamically farmed plots scattered across the granite-rich foothills of the Serra da Estrela sub-region of the Dão, this cuvée captures the raw, high-elevation soul of ancient Portuguese viticulture. Crafted from a traditional field blend of young and old vines—predominantly Jaen (Mencía), Alfrocheiro, and Baga—the fruit is handled with extreme gentleness in the cellar. Winemaker Antonio Madeira relies on spontaneous native-yeast fermentation in open lagares with gentle foot treading, prioritizing low extraction to preserve pure aromatic precision. Maturation takes place over 18 months in old French oak casks, allowing the liquid to harmonize without masking the underlying granite terroir. It is bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal added sulfur.

In the glass, it pours a bright, translucent ruby hue with vibrant magenta reflections. The aromatics are remarkably expressive, bursting with wild blackberries, red currants, crushed violets, dried thyme, and an intriguing, savory undercurrent of graphite and wet granite dust. On the palate, a "crystalline" core of high-altitude, mountain-driven acidity cuts cleanly through the ripe red berry fruit. Fine, powdery tannins frame the mid-palate with a delicate, chalky grip that gives the wine exceptional vertical structure while remaining entirely supple and weightless. It concludes with an intensely fresh, mouthwatering finish that leaves a persistent, saline trail of dark minerals, dried herbs, and cracked black pepper.