Wines with Caracter

Pretexto white is a blend of the traditional grapes from high altitude vines and granitic soils of Dão wine region. The grapes that make up this blend are mostly Encruzado and Bical, and Gouveio, Malvasia Fina and Cerceal Branco in a small percentage. Naturally fermented and aged in the same vats of cement and stainless steel is a very pleasant wine, with creaminess and complexity that already allows pairing with some gastronomy. It is a white blend that speaks for the vineyards and soils that originate it.

Pretexto Rosé is a 100% Jaen from vineyards in Vila Nova de Tazém, Serra da Estrela sub-region. Onion skin colour with a discreet aroma of reduced fruit, typical of the Jaen variety. Fresh sensation in the aroma that goes in the mouth with good acidity and balance. Powerful freshness in the moth make this rosé very pleasant and gastronomic.

Co-fermentation of white and red traditional grapes from Dão. The blend is composed by 70% of Jaen and Alfrocheiro and 30% of Encruzado and Bical from altitude vineyards and granitic soils. Delicate aromas with spice character, discreet fruit and with some green notes associated to the use of whole bunch. It is a “relaxed” blend that combines the best red and white grape varieties in the region.

Pretexto is a Portuguese Dão red wine produced with own grapes from different vineyards with an altitude around 500 meters. Fermented in stainless steel with 30% whole bunch, it ages in used French oak vats and barrels. With light colour, it is the fruit that shines and dominates this wine combined with fresh and vegetable character, good acidity and a long finish with smooth tannins. It is an elegant wine with the typical freshness of Dão.

The Encruzado, Bical and Cercial-Branco vineyards that originate this wine have 25 to 60 years old and grow in granite soils. This wine fermented with indigenous yeasts in foudres and 500L barrels, where aging took place “sur lie” without batonnage. It has a citrus profile and delicate aromas of orange peel, tea leaf and a slight toasted reduction. In the mouth, it has remarkable acidity and minerality. It has enormous aging potential.

Single vineyard wine made from 100% Tinta Roriz, manual harvested in the beginning of September. Free run juice ferments with wild yeasts in 225 L used french oak barrels. Textura da Estrela Rose 2021 shows delicate aromas of fresh red fruits with vegetable notes, marked acidity and minerality. It has a creamy and persistent texture as it asks for food. Extremely gastronomic.

The vines that make this wine have around 25 to 60 years old, in granite soils and with a production that never exceeds 4,5 tons per hectare. Vila Nova de Tazem (Serra da Estrela sub region) is a terroir where the labels “Textura da Estrela” comes from. This is a low intervention red wine in which we do short pump-overs in the first days of fermentation and then only cap management. Results in a very typical Dão reflecting their genuine terroir and sense of place.

From a single vineyard in Vila Nova de Tazem with 28 years old in granitic soils. Fermented with indigenous yeasts only in cement vats with 35% whole bunch followed by 30 days of cuvaison. After ageing its first winter in cement, it spent 6 months in a French oak vat. Bright, light red in color with mineral and stone-dust character, light pepper, and delicate fruit. Long and precise acidity. Potential to show up more in bottle.

Tinta Pinheira or Rufete is a grape variety that is rarely planted in Portugal but can be found in some vineyards in the Dão. It has medium-sized bunches but lots of juice and ripens late. Textura da Estrela Tinta Pinheira is an open-coloured wine with lots of red fruit, good acidity but very delicate.

Produced from old vineyards of Dão, the grape juice ferments in barrels and foudre without temperature control. This is a low intervention white wine, very elegant with crisp acidity despites its density and complexity. Rich and fresh, makes us salivate with its vibrant acidity. Still a young white.

Single vineyard Dão red wine from a field blend block at 600 meters altitude, 55-year-old vines planted in granite soils. The main grape varieties are Jaen, Baga, Alfrocheiro, Tinto-Cão and Tinta Pinheira. Indigenous yeasts and fermentation in a vat with 30-day cuvaison make this wine a distinct wine, with delicate aromas, nice minerality and very fine tannins. It is elegant, intense and pure.

Constructo is a blend of Touriga Nacional (50%) and Alfrocheiro (50%). The 35-year-old vineyard is at an altitude of 550 meters on granite soils and is located in Penalva do Castelo, Castendo sub-region. Deep red fruit with lots of complexity. In the mouth it has good structure and acidity, medium tannins with texture. It has a great potential for ageing in the bottle.

Vinha Negrosa is blend of Jaen (50%) and Alfrocheiro (50%), the varieties we found more interesting to show a better interpretation of the terroir where the vines are. This vineyard, called Negrosa, is in Vila Nova de Tazem, Serra da Estrela sub-region. The main characteristics are the altitude – 470 to 500 meters, the soil composition – granite stones and sand, and the age of the vines – approximately 30 years old. Delicate aromas with fruit character and some balsamic and peppery notes. Very elegant in the mouth with high felling of freshness and great complexity and concentration. It has a lot of potential to age in bottle.

D. Áurea is a tribute to Grandmother Áurea, the family connection with Portuguese origins. 100% Bastardo from the sub-region of Dão – Serra da Estrela – at an altitude of 600 meters and in granite soils. The Bastardo grapes ferment in a press with 30% whole bunch and macerate for 15 days. Then they age for 1 year in old barrels. Delicate aromas with fruit character and some balsamic and spice notes. Firm but textured tannins, high sense of freshness and great complexity. It has enormous potential to age in bottle.