Cerceal is one of the most renowned Portuguese white grape varieties, which, like Baga, gained its fame in the Bairrada region, serving as an important component for the region's whites. In the Douro, the Cerceal variety can be confused with Cerceal Branca, a different variety considered indigenous to the Douro region. For us, Cerceal represents yet another challenge for our viticulture and oenology team, which over the years has carried out the experimentation of grape varieties from other regions in order to better understand our terroir. Cerceal impresses with its robust stature and its thick-textured, dark green leaves, while oenologically it shows subtlety but a fresh profile with good acidity.
The grapes are handpicked and transported to the winery in 20kg boxes. After undergoing a manual selection process, the clusters are destemmed, and the grapes are pressed in a pneumatic press. After a 24-hour settling, the alcoholic fermentation of the must follows in stainless steel vats at 14-16ºC. The wine ages in new (50%) and used French oak barrels on the battonage process for a period of 6 months until bottling.
Cerceal showcases a beautiful citrine color. On the nose, it is delicate and complex, with notes of white petals, green plum, and citrus, combined with vegetal nuances that give it a lot of freshness on the nose and hints of fine toast from its aging in barrels. On the palate, it is intense and enveloping, with flavors that are hinted at on the nose, a rich and smooth texture, and a very lively acidity that provides a long and refreshing finish.
