Tinta Carvalha 2020
Tinta Carvalha 2020
A unique, fresh and elegant wine that reveals the potential of the Tinta Carvalha grape variety and the ancient history of wine production in the Alentejo.
Winemaking Vineyards: The grapes are selected at the sorting table, 30% whole bunch 70% destemmed, falling by gravity into the vat. Spontaneous fermentation and maceration for 40 days on skins, followed by 12 months aging in stainless steel vats.
Tasting notes: Very open, ruby color, fresh intense nose, notes of bitter red fruit, pomegranate, graphite notes. Very fine tense attack, elegant, lots of depth and tension. A red that shows that the Alentejo can be something else.
Varieties: 100% Tinta Carvalha. Tinta Carvalha is a grape variety from the old vineyards of the Alentejo, 1/2 sister to Castelão and Moreto and the daughter of a cross between the Sarigo x Alfrocheiro Preto grape varieties.
Winemaker: António Maçanita , Sandra Sárria
Data: 12.5% Vol Alcohol, 4197 Bottles numbered 0.75.
- Wine Type
- Red Wine
- Format
- 0,75L
- Vintage
- 2020
- Country
- Portugal
- Region
- Alentejo
- Robert Parker
- RP92
- Jancis Robinson
- 17
- Great Choices
- 18.5
The 2020 Tinta Carvalha Chão dos Eremitas Vinhas Velhas is unoaked and comes in at 11.6% alcohol, a drop of around two points from last year. Winemaker-owner António Maçanita insists this is ripe, and he indeed seems to be right. It still doesn't seem to be as structured or as deep as the 2019, but it has a serious backbone and intense red fruit flavors. It certainly doesn't taste unripe or weak, despite that rather shocking drop. Indeed, right now it seems to be quite a success, a star in its own right and style. Both may improve in time, but this will hold up its end of the bargain. I'd still like to see it answer some questions in the cellar, but it is irresistible now.
Light cherry red. Lifted wild-strawberry nose. Delicately floral. Vibrant – like being plugged in to the mains with the electricity turned on. Very fine, papery tannins. Scented on the long finish. Tight, taut, with a real lightness of being.
Very open in color, almost a palette in hue, enormous subtlety and elegance in aroma, very pure and expressive red berries, light vegetal, earthy. Excellent balance in the mouth, full and refreshing at the same time, delicate, elegant and sophisticated. A different, superior red.