2020 Wine & Soul Pintas Character

Wine & Soul was founded in 2001 by Sandra Tavares da Silva (Quinta do Vale D. Maria and Quinta de Chocapalha) and her husband Jorge Borges (then Niepoort, now Passadouro). The name Wine & Soul was chosen because the winemakers put their heart and soul into making wines that symbolize their lives. They bought a 2 ha vineyard with very old sticks in Vale de Mendiz next to Quinta do Noval. From the first harvest, the couple have become icons of the Douro region, acclaimed nationally and internationally for the charm and character of their wines that represent the unique terroir of the Douro region.

The Wine & Soul Pintas Character is a blend of 30 different grape varieties which reflect the unique character of the Douro including Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Rufete, Tinta Amarela, Tinta Cão from the 45 year old vineyard in Vale de Mendiz adjacent to the acclaimed Pintas Vineyard. As soon as it is time to harvest, all grapes are selected and de-stemmed, after which they are crushed with the feet in the traditional way in lagares (large concrete tubs). By crushing the grapes with the feet, there is as much color as possible and less rough tannins in the final wine because in this way few grape seeds are crushed that release these rough tannins. The must is then fermented in 10 days, after which the wine is allowed to age for 18 months in French oak barrels.

The Character is handsome on the nose with cassis, cherries and plums. In the mouth very rich and powerful with notes of ripe black fruit and dark chocolate with silky ripe tannins followed by a
long finish with a pleasant freshness. Very nice in combination with red meat, rich game dishes and hard cheeses.