Only in Portugal would a vineyard of 60-80 year-old vines not be considered an estate's oldest vines. But Antonio Madeira, a Frenchman with Portuguese roots and a habit of speaking to the oldest inhabitants of various villages, has been able to acquire fruit from a parcel of vines planted well over a century ago.

A land of unique, indigenous grapes, Portuguese vineyards have traditionally been collected and blended into one wine, a field blend often including dozens of varieties. There are two great joys to drinking Portuguese wines. First, the country's best winemakers remain committed to traditional varieties and, with nary a Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay in sight, the wines are unlike anything else the wine world has to offer. Second, many of the best plots were planted by today's winemakers' parents or grandparents, ensuring tons of concentration and intensity.

What importer Polaner Selections has to say about this wine...

Vineyard
This wine comes from vineyards cultivated by Antonio. The vines range in age from 50-100+ years old. There are more than 20 varieties of reds but the main ones for this wine are: Baga, Jaen and Tinta Amarela
Soil
Granite
Viticulture
biodynamic
Vinification
Hand harvest into small baskets with first sort at harvest. The grapes are destemmed and pressed and undergo a prefermentative cold maceration for 4-5 days to gain aromatics. This is done in small tanks or plastic vats. The musts are then allowed to warm up and native yeast fermentation begins. Hand punch downs 1 per day for the 12-14 day fermentation.
Aging
The wines are aged in used French oak 400, 500 or 600L barrels for 2 winters to naturally stabalize and clarify the wines.