Hugo Mendes Castelão

Mid greyish crimson with lightish pink rim. This wine has the sort of siren-call aroma that pulls you in with its open, red-fruited and stony/mineral smell, a tiny bit floral. Lisbon's equivalent of really good Pinot Noir but not in the least imitative. Relatively light-bodied yet intense, with dry, super-fine tannic texture. This is almost impossible to spit and you could just about drink it without food but I imagine that it would be versatile at the table. It's not especially demonstrative but it is scented, refined, has real persistence and immense drinkability – but not as simple as a vin de soif. This shows the potential of the best Castelão. I have suggested a long drinking window without having tasted older vintages but it is hard to resist now. (JH) Drink 2024 - 2032, 17.5 points JancisRobinson.com

Castelão

Total destemming, fermentation with natural yeasts in a closed vat. Frequent reassembly to keep the blanket wet, pressing early. The idea was to leave the wine soft and fruity like the old methods, in order to reveal the character of the variety. 20% aged for 6 months in wood.

Serve slightly chilled 14 -16°C