Espera Castelao Vinha dos Vales 2023 75cl

Espera translates as ‘wait’ in English, and is a word that Rodrigo Martins uses as the basis of his winemaking philosophy. It is a word that he uses to connect his vineyards and wines to nature. Rodrigo works with organically farmed vineyards in the Alcobaça region just North of Lisbon. The 5 hectares are planted with indigenous grape varieties including, and beyond, the well-known Touriga Nacional. Rodrigo has no set elevage for his cuvées, preferring to treat each vintage as its own, giving more or less time as the wine needs. This way he believes that the wines best represent the vintage.

Alcobaça is famous for its large population of Cistercian monks, who have been making wine for many generations. Rodrigo looks to their historical winemaking practises to influence his own winemaking. These wines are a true insight into the terroir of Alcobaça and the history which defines the region.

The wine is made from the finest Castelao grapes from 50 year old vines. The grapes undergo whole bunch fermentation (semi-carbonic) with indigenous yeasts for 21 days. Fermentation is finished in old French oak barrels (500 and 228L); the wine then ages for 10 months in the same barrels, until bottling.