Moreto is a varietal from the ancient varieties of the Alentejo vineyard, sister of Castelão, daughter of the crossing between Sarigo and Alfrocheiro Preto.
Growing Conditions
“Chão dos Eremitas” Vineyard planted in: 1970.
Altitude: 256-267 m
Soils: Granitic - Non-Humic Litolics, little evolved and formed soils, sandy texture, without aggregates, slightly acidic.
Location: Southern foothills of Serra d’Ossa.
History: This place is special, you can feel it!
Two streams bring the rainwater from the Serra keeping the ground cool in the torrid Alentejo heat, never lowering the water table below 5 meters. Here is where the vine used to be planted, the Chão dos Eremitas, “Chão”, an old term for flat areas, and “Eremitas” referring to the Hermit monks of São Paulo’s order. Here, there’s evidence of uninterrupted wine production since the 14th century. XIV. The vineyard was so important that a Papal Bull in 1397 exempts the “Pauperes Eremitas” from paying taxes in their vineyards. But archeology goes further, discovering the only Phoenician wine amphora of Portugal’s inland, dating to the 8th century BC. This links this place to wine about
900 years before the arrival of the Romans, in which there are 3,000 years of history linked to wine.
Grapes under certified integrated production regime without the use of herbicides.
Winemaking
This 100% Moreto, one of the few Moreto monovarietals in Portugal. A bewildering wine, that shown the role of this varietal in the old vineyards of Alentejo. Freshness and power.
The grapes are selected in a sorting table, 100% destemmed, fall through gravity on the vat. Spontaneous fermentation and maceration for 35 days in skins, followed by ageing 18 months in old oak barrels.
Winemaker: António Maçanita
Winemaker: Sandra Sárria
Aging
18 months in old oak barrels.
Nose
Almost ripe black fruit, with notes of forest.
Palate
Full attack, concentrated with good freshness and persistent structure in the end.
Appearance
Intense ruby colour, medium concentration.
Food Pairing
Great with meat dishes, from a grilled entrecôte to pot meats.