2017 Humus Castelão & Touriga Nacional

Region: Lisbon< Portugal

Grapes: Touriga Nacional + Castelão

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic farming, certified by Sativa PT since 2007; co-ferment, 5 day maceration then rests in enox tanks; zero additions, not even SO2;unfined/unfiltered; 12.5% ABV; 208 cases

Winemaker: Rodrigo Filipe

Quinta do Paço is Rodrigo’s small family farm, about one hour north of Lisbon and 20km from the Atlantic, a cool microclimate where you get cooling sea breezes and high humidity (good for maintaining acid in grapes). Rodrigo’s father planted the first parcels of vines in the 90’s but it wasn’t until the early 2000’s that Rodrigo took on the role as winemaker (winegrower actually), after working as an engineer. He has no formal oenology training, having learned by reading his father’s old wine books, attending various courses and workshops, and by following his gut, always focused on the quality of the grapes and the health of the soil.  For a Portuguese red, this is pretty light and fresh, almost glou glou with a slight chill, but with a serious backbone of structure and minerality that keeps it from being a one-dimensional chillable red.  Rodrigo crushes it again!