Let's talk little, let's talk wine
This Grande Reserva is made by Aneto, a small family winery in the Douro founded in 2001, whose wines are crafted by Francisco Montenegro. The red-grape vineyards lie in the very heart of the Douro Valley, in the parish of Castedo, near Alijó, where seven hectares are planted with Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz. This steeply sloping area enjoys a remarkable climatic balance, a great terroir capable of producing concentrated, structured wines true to the character of the indigenous grape varieties.
The harvest is by hand, into twenty-kilo crates. The grapes are sorted and destemmed, then placed in a concrete tank where they are foot-trodden in the traditional way, twice a day for a week. The wine is then aged for eighteen months in new and used French oak barrels. The combination of Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz, the local name for Tempranillo, provides a structure built to withstand this careful ageing and gives it excellent ageing potential.
This wine reveals notes of blackberry, blackcurrant, black cherry, plum, pine needles, garrigue, vanilla and pepper. The dark, concentrated colour opens onto an intense nose where black fruit mingles with the scents of pine forest. The energetic, dense palate rests on fine tannins and ripe acidity that give it length. It calls for noble dishes of slow-cooked meat.
Where are we traveling?
The Douro
The Douro region, in northern Portugal, is the birthplace of Port. It takes its name from the Douro River, which flows from east to west from the Spanish border to Porto, where it meets the Atlantic Ocean. Although the Douro is best known for its Ports, the region also has a growing reputation for the excellence of its red and white wines. The wines of the Douro Valley are among the finest in the world, yet they are not very well known. Not only does the Douro Valley produce some of the best Portuguese wines, affordable and underrated, it also offers a magnificent, magical landscape. The wine-growing area covers the steep slopes along the banks of the river's lower course, one of the longest rivers on the Iberian Peninsula. From its source in northern Spain, where it is known as the Duero, it flows through the famous vineyards of Ribera del Duero before reaching the Portuguese border and becoming the Douro. From there, it crosses the landscape, creating a unique and historic wine region before joining the ocean at Porto. The most unifying feature of the Douro is its mountainous relief, although the region covers a wide range of terroirs with different aspects, altitudes and soil types. However, the vineyards generally stretch across the steep, dry slopes on either side of the river and its countless tributaries, on narrow rocky terraces - a sight that has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (an honour for the region).
The little history of the country
Portugal
Portugal's rich history is inextricably linked to its wines, especially its most famous, Port. From the ancient cities of Lisbon and Porto to small medieval towns and Roman ruins, the past is still very much alive in modern Portugal. A wonderful holiday in the heart of this country, where Port wines originated, is a unique way to experience Old World culture, the climate, the beautiful countryside, and of course, the delicious wines. Although the history of wine in Portugal dates back to the Romans, it wasn't until the early 19th century that the wine we know today as Port came into being. Portuguese table wine had already been in high demand since the mid-17th century, primarily by the British. To make rustic Portuguese wines more stable and palatable, small amounts of brandy were added to the wine barrels before shipping. Eventually, British companies began investing in the region and perfected the process of adding brandy during fermentation, rather than after, which helped preserve the distinctive fruity flavors of the red wine that were unique to Portugal's Douro Valley. In recent years, a small revolution has taken place in the Douro region in terms of developing modern-style dry red and white wines, alongside the very traditional production of Port wines. Table wines also continue to play an important role. Increased investment, improved winemaking techniques, and the modernization of the industry are yielding interesting results. What is unique to Portugal is the very large number (over 500) of indigenous grape varieties (though some are unpronounceable). Even most wine experts are unfamiliar with the grapes that produce Port, Madeira, or any other Portuguese wine. Like its neighbor Spain, Portugal has been experiencing a quiet revolution for the past two decades. The reluctance to follow trends and plant international grape varieties is now bearing fruit, and the new breed of wines, brimming with terroir and fruit, is more than capable of competing on the world stage. The unique flavors that characterize Portugal's indigenous grape varieties have become its strength. This is good news for those seeking a change from the ubiquitous international grape-based wines. The terroir is so diverse. From north to south, east to west, from mountainous to coastal vineyards, hot and dry or cool and green. In every style, from vinho verde to port, from crisp, dry whites to elegant reds, in so many different ways, Portuguese wines are unique.