Aphros Phaunus Amphora Palhete 2019

Cellar for up to 3 years. Serve chilled.

Vasco Croft initially worked as an architect but had long been interested in the biodynamic winemaking movement before he founded Aphros in 2002. The winery is located in Vinho Verde on his family’s historic 17th century Casal do Paço estate and focuses on producing classic local varieties in harmony with nature. In the vineyard cover crops are used in between the vines to boost biodiversity and the vines are treated with natural extracts. Once in the winery the grapes are fermented using wild yeasts found naturally in the winery and on grape skins.

In 2015 Croft decided to split the brand into two labels, one focusing on classic expressions of local grape varieties and the other based in a medieval cellar where everything is done without electricity. This second label is called Phaunus and uniquely features the use of clay amphorae to ferment and mature the wines.

Palhete is crafted from Loureiro and Vinhao grapes sourced from north-west Portugal which are spontaneously fermented on the skins in Croft’s clay amphorae. The young wine then ages on the lees for 7 months in the amphorae and is bottled without fining or filtering. This creates a unique and delicious rosé with enticing notes of dried rose petals, incense, Mediterranean herbs and cranberries and pomegranate. Great to serve as a refreshing and unusual aperitif or partner for salmon, roasted chicken or creamy cheeses.