Nicolau de Almeida Quinta do Monte Xisto 2020

Cellar for up to 20 years or more. Decant for an hour or more before serving.

From the beginning, this Douro red appears to be “wise” beyond its years - complex aromas of black fruit, dried rose petals, rosemary and lavender emerge. Deeper notes reveal themselves as the wine aerates. It is composed of three classic Portuguese grapes: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and a splash of Sousão, all harvested from a 10-hectare plot on the left bank of the Douro River.

The winery was founded in 1993, by João Nicolau de Almeida. Although João’s family is forever intertwined with the history of Portuguese wine (his father being the creator of Portugal’s most famous table wine, Barca Velha), he built Nicolau de Almeida and Sons from the ground up. It began with the land - a hill of schist soil on the left bank of the Douro, carefully planted over the span of a decade. This is the stunning product of that land - João’s flagship Douro red.

Quinta do Monte Xisto is a dark scarlet in the glass. Each sip reveals a firm yet complex character, bursting with fruity notes of plum, blackcurrant and fig. These are supported by flavours of tobacco smoke, pepper and baking spice, evolving into a fresh eucalyptus finish. With silky tannins and a tenacious acidity, this wine has plenty of ageing potential. Drink it with grilled meats, beef stew, or aged cheese.