Violets, vanilla, blackcurrants, black pepper and some earthiness come through heavily on the nose here. It's a heady and big nose, but then the structure matches up brilliantly: great bite from the acid, and ripe tannins give this a lot to say for itself.
The Alves de Cunha family has lived and worked here, producing wines from native Portuguese varietals for over 30 years. The area is almost entirely devoted to environmentally friendly viticulture, respecting biodiversity and sustainable farming methods.
Portugal has been reluctant to plant international grape varieties — and all the better for it. The country has a huge number of flourishing grapes, with 90 indigenous grapes in Douro alone.Red grapes like touriga nacional and touriga franca are both prominent in a lot of Portuguese red wines, which often show intense aromas of dark fruits, dark colour and bold structure.
Porto and port is the Douro's most famous export, but in recent years more and more still wines are emerging from the region in international markets.
Grapes are grown on schist soil. This soil retains heat and rich in magnesium and potassium. though lacking in other nutrient types.