Portugal | Dão | Freire Lobo | Granite Terroir Blend Branco

Granite Terroir Blend Branco

VARIETALS
Field blend of 35% Encruzado, 20% Bical, 20% Cerceal, 10% Fernão Pires, 10% Malvasia Fina, 5% Barcelo

NOTES
VINEYARD: High elevation at 1500ft asl. Granite-based soil. All grapes are randomly planted together - a very typical way of planting vineyards in the Dão going back generations.

VINIFICATION: Dry-farmed state-grown grapes are hand-harvested. Grapes are de-stemmed, followed by 12 hours of skin contact on the day of harvest. Fermentation with indigenous yeast in stainless steel vats at controlled temperature for 2 weeks. Aging is in 400L neutral French barrels for 12 months, in contact with the fine lees, but without batonnage. No malolactic.
2020 in Dão was marked by a dry winter and the rain in early spring allowed some water reserves in the soil that supported the vines during the dry months from late spring through summer. Grapes ripened early - in July the vineyards were already in veraison. Harvest began during the first week of September.