Mateus Nicolau de Almeida "Eremitas Antão do Deserto" Douro, Portugal 2021

FROM THE PRODUCER: THE WINE: Eremitas are wines made from the same variety, Rabigato. Each wine comes from distinct parcels but they all come from the Douro Superior (Mediterranean / Continental climate), south facing and are in schist soil from the Desejosa Formation presenting small rocky and altitude differences. Although vinified in the same way this parcels create different wines! It stands out the “telluric information” that each place transmits. The grapes go directly into a calcatórium (granite basin) followed by a 3 hours foot trodding. We press them in a vertical press were the juice runs by gravity to croncrete vats in the underground cellar with optimal natural temperature and humidity. Spontaneous fermentation is done without temperature control. The wine ages 1 year in concrete tanks. THE PRODUCER: Mateus is the fifth generation of the Nicolau de Almeida family to produce wine in the Douro. Together with his wife, Teresa Ameztoy, they work in a wine cellar they call Shad’