Along with Quinta Dos Roques Alvaro Castro’s two quintas: Pellada and Saes are the quality-style leaders of the Dão. Alvaro releases wines eponymously and using either of the two Quinta names.
Blended from both Quintas. Aromatics of plum spice, black cherry, gamey meats and woodsmoke. Serious palate has a chocolatey, spicy edge. It is structured and savoury with taut berry and black fruits with good acidity. There’s tobacco and cane characters (from the Touriga), red fruits from Alfrocheiro, sage-brush and dark, sweet spices. Quite firm and a good food wine. A blend of Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro and Tinta Roriz, 15% of which comes from very old vines. It is aged 12 months in second-use oak. Pape, below, is its great, graceful big sister.