Morgado do Quintao Palhete 2021

Deep in the western Algarve, where the Monchique mountains meet the Atlantic Ocean, amidst the Algarve’s orange groves and ancient olive trees, lies an ambitious family project.The ambition is to further the spread of Algarve wine, combined with the promotion of art and cultural education.

Morgado do Quinto is a project in its fifth generation within the family of Filipe Caldas de Vasconcellos, who has been defining its route since 2017. To make things easier, I’ll mention that it was founded in the early 1810s by the 1st Count of Silves Francisco Manuel Pereira Caldas.

Grape Varietals & Region: A blend of Negra Mole and Crato Branco (Roupeiro) from Algarve, Portugal. The vines are planted on sandy, limestone rich soils.

Taste Profile:Pale salmon core with pink highlights. Enticing notes of fresh picked strawberry and white peach on the nose. Bright Rainer cherry, red currant and lemon zest burst on the palate. Piquant meyer lemon yogurt tang lingers on the finish.

Winemaking Process: The wine is produced using a traditional palhete method, where red and white grapes are co-fermented. Whole cluster fermentation followed by slight increase in atmospheric pressure to squeeze the berries and break the skin. Maceration on the skins for 2 days and then pressing. The fermentation is intentionally slow and gentle at a cool 54 degrees Fahrenheit to maintain integrity of aromatic components. The wine is aged for 6 months in stainless steel with 5 months on the lees to allow for further development of aromatic and textural components