| Description: |
Lapa dos Gaivoes Escolha Joao Barbosa & Filos
João Teodósio Matos Barbosa founded his winery in 1997, and by 1999 the first vineyard was planted in Vale de Junco, Esperança, Portalegre. The wines were first made available on the global market in 2005, after a small production in 2004 in the vineyard of Valle de Junco. In 1997 João Barbosa purchased 22 hectares in the Alto Alentejo region of Esperança, Portalegre. In 2000, ten hectares were planted with Syrah, Alicante Bouschet, Aragonês, Trincadeira, Alfrocheiro, Tinta Barroca and Touriga Nacional. Most of the vineyard benefits from southern exposure, and growing on granitic slopes, the plants are forced to compete with each other, creating a special balance. Productions vary between three and four tons per hectare, and the grapes have complexity, delicacy and minerality, all characteristics that are very present in the Lapa dos Gaivões brand.
The estate vineyards in the Valle de Junco lie 400m above sea level. In early September of 2012 Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca and Aragonez were harvested at optimum ripeness. One of the best growing seasons we’ve experienced has produced beautifully balanced and healthy fruit that gives us this deeply coloured, intense and complex blend from hand harvested and selected grapes. The fruit is carefully transported to the winery in 12kg boxes. Grape bunches are hand sorted and gravity fed into stainless steel tanks where maceration takes place for 4 days at controlled temperatures followed by an additional 10 day fermentation. The wine is then aged in French barriques for 12 months. This wine is unfiltered so it will develop sediment with time.
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| Taste: |
This wine shows dark berry and spice characteristics delicately framed in vanilla and spicy oak nuances. Expansive on the palate with intense dark fruit and an impressively elegant structure. Tannins are fine and the finish is tireless. |
| Cellaring Potential: |
The rich, ripe nature of the fruit make this wine approachable today but the structure and acidity suggest this wine will age for another 10-15 years. |
| Food Matching: |
Best enjoyed with slow-cooked braised meats and vegetables. |