Roquette & Cazes Tinto 2022

Drink it now or cellar for up to 15 years. It is recommended to decant it for an hour. The Roquette & Cazes project was started in 2002 by the two families behind Quinta do Crasto and Château Lynch-Bages. The aim was to produce excellent Portuguese wines with a strong sense of identity, combining their winemaking experience and traditions. The vineyard and cellar operations are managed by Daniel Llose, Cátia Barbeta, and Manuel Lobo. The wine is a blend of mostly Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Roriz. After manual harvesting, fermentation occurs at a controlled temperature in stainless steel. The use of the French délestage technique to promote contact between skins and must, combined with the Bordeaux practice of post-fermentation maceration of the skins, favors the production of a concentrated, rustic, and characterful wine that fully expresses the identity of the Douro region. The Tinto then ages for approximately 18 months in French oak. In the glass, the wine reveals a deep, dark ruby ​​color. Its aromatic profile opens with intense notes of red fruit followed by spicy hints. On the palate, it is complex and robust, well-structured and elegant, with a balanced acidity and ripe tannins. It is concentrated and fruity with a long, delicately spicy finish. Try it with a hearty red meat stew.