Malvasia Preta is one of the oldest grape varietals in the Douro Valley, with constant presence within Old Vines, however, never produced as a single-varietal wine. With a distinctive style, it stands beside grapes like Rufete, Tinta Francisca and Bastardo which result in exotic and elegant wines that praise on intensity and acidity, rather than the classic full-bodied structure usually found in the Douro. Our curiosity towards producing a wine from Malvasia Preta was genetated by the fact this is an original Douro varietal, and remains very present and resistent to the austere conditions of our terroir.
Malvasia Preta was planted at Quinta das Carvalhas in 2002 with a Southern facing exposure. It is characterized by a small, compact cluster, with small berries and a thin skin. These features made us believe that the result woould be a fine, elegant wine, yet with a strong Douro character. We were right! And in order to preserve these characteristics, the fermentation took place in small stainless steel tanks with pelicilar maceration, followed by an 8 month ageing in used french oak barriques. Used barrels allow the wine to age nicely without covering the grape’s varietal character.
The Malvasia Preta surprises immeditely for it’s brick red colour, showing elegance and singularity. On the nose, it shows beautiful notes of black current and citrics, combined with spicy nuances generating a very intense and fresh aromatic profile. Reveals an elegant structure, which accentuates its intensity on the palate with a very round tanins and a long, lingering finish.
