Altano DOC Douro Tinto 2019 (Portugal)

Description

• Raspberry 
• Spiced plums
• Peppery tannins
• Taut structure

"A fruit centric bouquet laced with scents of granitic minerality and dark roses. Aromas of black cirant and black berries, dark chocolate and spiced plums, there’s an earthy mineral quality and dark spices of toasty barrel. Very generous on the palate with a core of dark red berry flavours laced with firm, ripe tannins and medium+ acidity. Dry with a firm structure and balanced lengthy finish. Best drinking from 2022 through 2028+" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, Jan 2022

"It's sweetly ripe and spicy at the same time, showing dark berry, cumin, dried flower and hazelnut characters on the nose. The palate delivers fleshy texture and ripe fruit flavours, beautifully complemented by savoury nuances and fine-grained tannins. At its best: now to 2026" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Jan 2022

Deep, crimson colour. Fresh rockrose fragrance with background aromas of Mediterranean vegetation and notes of red fruits, with raspberry coming to the fore. Good body, nicely seasoned by the peppery tannins that provide a taut structure. Ripe, succulent flavours of red plums.

This Altano DOC Douro red wine is made from a combination of several traditional Douro grape varieties sourced from the Symington family’s Douro Valley vineyards, principally those located in the Cima Corgo and Douro Superior subregions. It is a red blend of Touriga Franca 40%; Tinta Roriz 30%; Tinta Barroca 30%.

They had a very dry and mild winter and spring, and by late summer the vines were in need of water to keep maturations on track. Fortunately, the virtual absence of rain from May to late August was counterbalanced by cooler summer conditions, which attenuated the lack of water. Before the vintage, they experienced fine conditions including some useful rain in late August, which rehydrated the vines. They were blessed with ideal harvest conditions throughout September with clear sunny days bringing moderate temperatures that contributed to balanced ripening. Yields were closer to average following the exceptionally small years of 2017 and 2018. Expressive aromas, freshness and liveliness, in contrast to the concentration of recent years, are the hallmarks of the 2019 wines.

The wine is fermented in stainless steel vats with pumping over and soft macerations at low temperatures (23-25°C) aiming to extract colour and aromas and limit tannin extraction in order to produce a wine that favours fresh, floral aromatics and ripe fruit flavours.