Mateus Nicolau de Almeida comes from multiple generations of celebrated winemakers in Portugal. He made his first wine when he was just 10 years old! He currently has a winemaking project with his wife, Teresa, called Mateus Nicolau de Almeida. They are hugely involved in the natural winemaking community, both in Portugal and abroad, having lived and worked separately in many of the famous winemaking areas of the world. They have a farm where they always have side projects going, including a variety of vinegars and olive oil.
The Trans-Douro-Express series of wines is an expression of the terroir in the Douro River Valley, ranging from the hottest areas of Baixo Corgo, to the middle, more temparate area of Cima Corgo, to the coolest Mediterranean climate of Douro Superior. They are blends of more than 10 grape varieties, grown mostly in schist bedrock with sand and clay topsoils. This Cima Corgo is an example of the more temperate climate: a blend of 50% Touriga Nacional and 50% Touriga franca, with a whiff of iodine on the nose and heavier berry notes with a rocky minerality that lingers on the palate.
2021 Mateus Nicolau de Almeida, "Trans-Douro-Express" Cima Corgo, Douro Portugal
Biodynamically grown in schist bedrock and sand/clay topsoil. Hand harvested. From the producer:
The grapes are destemmed and spontaneously co-fermented in 4000L concrete vats. Extractions are gently done one time per day with pumpovers, by feet and hands for four to five days prior to pressing. They’re aged in the same concrete vats for eight months, racked a few times during aging, lightly filtered, and sometimes fined. Total sulfite levels range between 40-50 ppm(mg/L) with the first addition usually made prior to fermentation.
