'Encostas d'Aire' Quinta da Serradinha 2015

The Quinta da Serradinha Encostas d’Aire is a sincere and complex bottle, characterized by excellent freshness and lively tannins. We are in Leiria, on the central Atlantic coast of Portugal, where Antonio Marques da Cruz cultivates just over 7 hectares of vines as naturally and sustainably as possible, adopting practices prescribed by organic farming while minimizing interventions in the cellar. The name of the DOC "Encostas d’Aire" literally means "hills of air", highlighting the steepness and breeziness characteristic of the vineyards in the area; while the term "Baga", the name of the native variety at the base of this thick-skinned bottle, simply translates to "berry".

Encostas d’Aire Quinta da Serradinha represents a pure expression of Baga, grown on clay-limestone soils under certified organic conditions. Once harvested, the grapes are destemmed and then fermented in open wooden vats with 10 days of contact between the must and the skins. The wine is subsequently channeled into 600-liter wooden barrels for aging for 24 months on the fine lees. Throughout the entire processing, the mass undergoes no filtration.

The Portuguese wine Encostas d’Aire from Quinta da Serradinha reveals a garnet red color. On the nose, it evokes aromas of red fruits and chocolate, enriched by earthy sensations, while on the palate it is complex and fresh, with soft and velvety tannins that lead to a finish consistent with the olfactory perceptions. Due to its not excessive concentration and its natural freshness, the Encostas d’Aire from Quinta da Serradinha represents an excellent pairing with platters of cured meats and moderately aged cheeses, as well as with preparations of white or red meats of decent structure.