Vinho Verde, Phaunus Palhete 2017

Palhete is a very old style of wine typical of Northern Portugal. It is a co-maceration and co-fermentation of red and white grapes. Not really rose, not really orange, it’s a maceration.

Region: Vinho Verde. Note: This is NOT the light, sweet, sparkling white wine that made Vinho Verde famous.

Subregion: Lima (northern Vinho Verde)

Grapes: Loureiro (a white) and Vinhao (a red).

Vinification: A week of fermentation of these two grapes together, in clay amphora. Natural wine. Organics.

Tasting: Pungent herbs, decaying red flowers, earthy, pink peppercorn. Clean palate, some texture, pungence again.

Lisboa, Vermelho 2017, Casal Figueira, Portugal

Region: Vinho Regional Lisboa

Grape: Tinta Miuda – known as Graciano in Rioja, where it is often blended with Tempranillo.

Vinification: Simple, biodynamics, stainless steel. Clean. Pure.

Tasting: The wine is full of dark, musky savoury herbs, wet rock minerality, a hint of cinnamon and hot spices, and little dark berries behind it. The fruit is tart, not at all jammy, and they follow through on the palate, which is high acid, medium bodied, and full of the same musky herbs we noted on the palate. Savoury!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Casal Figueira was born from the passion of the late António Augusto Carvalho (1967-2009). Montpellier trained and an ebullient viticulturist, he discovered the grape Vital on the Serra de Montejunto and began a project to not only save this nearly extinct indigenous grape but become the only winemaker to make and bottle 100% Vital.

Marta met António while renting a studio space in the countryside north of Lisbon that was attached to his rented cellar. Marta, an artist at work in her studio, would often watch Antonió working by himself from early in the morning to late in the evening. From the care he gave to the vineyards to his work in the winery, she was amazed at his passion. Marta and Antonió married, and Marta soon became part of the small team of Casal Figueira.

During the 2009 harvest Antonio passed unexpectedly while treading on his Castelão grapes due to heart failure. Marta and their children were left with fermenting wines. Sharing with him the winemaking for over ten years and with the help of many good friends, Marta found it necessary to continue Casal Figueira. She changed the old vine Vital label to bear António’s name in remembrance. Today Marta and two co-workers make up the Casal Figueira team.

– Cream

Dao 2012, Casa de Mouraz, Portugal

Région: Dao, a plateau mostly of granite with sandy topsoil.

Grapes: Big field blend, mostly Encruzado, a native grape.

Vinification: Organic. Natural fermentation in Inox, on Lees 8 months.

Tasting: Big minerality on the nose, riesling like petrol empyreumatique, even a bit smoky. There is also a briny character, seaweed, umami, lemon zest. The palate is waxy, rich, and full bodied, with a very salty atlantic character, and bright lemon zest balancing the rich textures. Really a very very great wine.

Bairrada, Maria da Graça 2016, Tiago Télés, Portugal

Région: Bairrada

Grape: Alfrocheiro

Vinification: Organic, Wild yeast, large old oak barrels.

Tasting: Dark fruit, smokiness and dirt. Surprising freshness on the palate with clean dry tannins. More linear and fresh than expected from the rich palate. Nice.

Dao, Branco 2011, Casa de Mouraz, Portugal

Région: Dao

Grapes: Big field blend, mostly Encruzado.

Vinification: Organic. Natural fermentation in Inox, on Lees 8 months.

Tasting: Wow. Profound minerality, petrol like empyreumatic, a touch of white flowers, lemon, beeswax. Broad rich body, but also weightlessly elegant, with balanced lemon tang and bitter herb finish. Wow.

Lisboa, António 2016, Casal Figueira, Portugal

Region: Vinho Regional Lisboa

Grape: Vital. 85% of all Vital is made by Casal Figueira. It is the only 100% Vital. Old indigenous grape.

The Pedra vineyard at 350 m altitude; 80 year Vital vines in limestone, Serra Montejunto, Lisboa

Vinification: Biodynamics in the vineyard, cold press and spontaneous fermentation in old barrels.

Tasting: A great replacement for Foradori white. Fresh, seaside white wine. Beautiful lemon, white flowers, fresh green apple and pear, with a hint of vanilla and warmth from the understated oak. High fresh salty acidity. Nice.

Casal Figueira was born from the passion of the late António Augusto Carvalho (1967-2009). Montpellier trained and an ebullient viticulturist, he discovered the grape Vital on the Serra de Montejunto and began a project to not only save this nearly extinct indigenous grape but become the only winemaker to make and bottle 100% Vital.

Marta met António while renting a studio space in the countryside north of Lisbon that was attached to his rented cellar. Marta, an artist at work in her studio, would often watch Antonió working by himself from early in the morning to late in the evening. From the care he gave to the vineyards to his work in the winery, she was amazed at his passion. Marta and Antonió married, and Marta soon became part of the small team of Casal Figueira.

During the 2009 harvest Antonio passed unexpectedly while treading on his Castelão grapes due to heart failure. Marta and their children were left with fermenting wines. Sharing with him the winemaking for over ten years and with the help of many good friends, Marta found it necessary to continue Casal Figueira. She changed the old vine Vital label to bear António’s name in remembrance. Today Marta and two co-workers make up the Casal Figueira team.

– Cream

Antonio quite literally foun abandoned vines of up to 100 years of age on the side of a mountain, the Serra de Montejunto which you find on the map just north of Lisbon. It rises directly out of the Atlantic, limestone.