Muxagat Xistos Altos 2021

Grape varieties: Rabigato.

Vinification: The grapes come from our highest plots of Rabigato at 500 m (“Os Xistos Altos” means “The Highest Schist”) in the Douro Superior. They are harvested by hand in September in 20 kg boxes. In the cellar, before being pressed, they spend 12 hours in a cold room at 10ºC. In the winery, the grapes are crushed directly into a vertical press which does a long, gentle pressing. The must from the pressing goes by gravity to an underground concrete tank. The next day the must goes into a 2,000-liter French oak barrel and also into a 600-liter concrete “egg” which is fermented with indigenous yeasts. The maturation process takes 20 months.

Tasting Notes: Shades of yellow and green with a bright appearance. It’s a wine that shows great character, with very present mineral and smoky aromas. “Os Xistos Altos” also has fresh aromas of white flowers and fruit but also juniper, one of our local plants. On the palate, this wine is “salty” and mineral, very characteristic of Rabigato. It’s elegant and complex, with concentration and firm acidity from the start to the finish, and a very persistent finish. Great ageing potential.

Recommendation: Serve at a temperature of 13/14ºC.

Food Pairing: Good with seafood, grilled fresh fish, white meats and as an aperitif.