Antonio Madeira Os Granitos 2021

A single-vineyard red named after the different types of sandy decomposed granites found in the vineyard. Red currants, bark and a stony mineral note. The palate is balanced, elegant and vibrant with fine subtle tannins. It unfolds delicately but with incredible energy. There are about 20 different varieties in this wine, the main ones being jaen, tinta amarela and baga. Made from a 0.25-hectare, 100-year-old vineyard planted in the village of Sao Martinho at around 550 meters in extremely degraded granite soils. From biodynamically grown grapes. Completely destemmed. Aged for two winters in 400, 500 and 600-liter used French-oak barrels. Drink now or hold.

Here's a red I had not tasted before, the 2021 Os Granitos. It's a paler, wilder and more nuanced wine from a small plot where you can find up to five different soils, all granite based, with different textures and colors. It was planted with a complex blend of varieties: 60% Tinta Amarela, Baga and Jaen, and the remaining 40% Alicante-Bouschet, Tinta Pinheira, Negro Mouro, Marufo, Bastardo, Tinta Carvalha, Alfrocheiro and many other varieties, some of them from 50 years ago and some others over 100 years old. It fermented with a cold soak and an infusion to do a soft extraction, and the wine aged in used 225- and 500-liter French oak barrels for 18 months. It has a moderate 11.6% alcohol and an ethereal and light palate full of energy and light, and it's vibrant and fresh, with depth and complexity and very fine tannins. It shows the superiority of the 2021 vintage next to the 2022s. Bravo! It was bottled in August 2023. It feels young and is evolving at a very slow pace.