Quinta dos Carvalhais Dão Colheita Tinto 2023

Ruby red in colour, the nose is brimming with notes of blackberry and plum, with floral hints of violet, menthol and a subtle spiciness. The palate is defined by vibrant acidity and well-integrated oak, while velvety tannins create a smooth mouth feel, and the juicy fruit flavours persist into an elegant finish.

The grapes were hand harvested by variety and plot, before being destemmed, crushed and then gravity fed into stainless-steel fermentation tanks. Each variety was fermented separately for around eight days at an average temperature of 27ºC. 75% of the wine was aged in 225-litre used French oak barrels for twelve months, the remainder in stainless steel tanks. The final blend was then assembled and lightly fined and filtered before bottling.

The 2023 vintage in the Dão was characterised by hot, dry conditions. Winter rains were significantly lower than usual, and there was a heatwave in July with peak temperatures of 43°C. Careful vineyard management was required 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.