Luis Seabra Xisto Cru Tinto 2022
Luis Seabra Xisto Cru Tinto 2022 is a dry, very full-bodied red from Touriga Nacional, Tempranillo, Touriga Franca (Douro, Portugal), in the full, structured reds style. Tannins are firm and acidity fresh; oak influence is some. Good with white fish, creamy pasta, cheese board, lamb. Decant for about 1 hour. Critic score 95/100 (merchant-reported). Cheapest offer £38.22 at 8wines UK.
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Cellar for 15 years or more. Decant for up to an hour before serving. The Xisto Cru is a mineral-driven red wine, with strong aromas of red hedgerow berries, herbs, smoke and earthy forest floor. It was made in Portugal’s Douro Valley, from a wide variety of native red grapes, including Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, and Alicante Bouchet, among others. The creator of this wine is Luis Seabra, who farms a modest 8 hectares spread across 3 of Portugal’s most important regions: Vinho Verde, Douro and Dao. He is considered to be an instrumental figure in the country’s recent wine renaissance, shepherding producers away from traditional fortified wines while creating an intriguing style of his own. The wine has a dark ruby colour, with lively acidity and chewy tannins on the palate. It contains notes of raspberry, sour cherry and wild strawberry that mingle with undertones of chalk, wet stone and crushed leaves. The fruits were sourced from two distinct plots, composed mostly of old vines, before being fermented in old Port barrels and aged in French oak. It has the potential to age even further in the cellar. Enjoy it with salted cod, risotto or aged cheese.