Carlos Raposo Definido Tinto Dão 2019

A region destined to produce great wine, an exceptional vintage and the talent of a passionate winemaker; the combination makes for an impressive red wine. As the first edition, Definido Red 2018 has a fine and elegant wine as a result of the intention to create a fine wine with a typical extraction from the Dao region. The grapes composing this wine are from different Sub-Regions of Dão. The age of the vines ranges between 60 and more 100 years. Many of these grapes come from monovarietal vineyards, but also from vineyards with a wide mixture of grape varieties typical of the region, such as Tinta Pinheira, Tinta Carvalha, Baga, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Feminino, Tinta Roriz, Alfrocheiro, Jaen, among others.

The grapes were harvested manually and the first selection happened directly in the field. Only the grapes suitable for our quality criteria were harvested. These were delicately transported in 15 kg boxes to our cellar where a strict sorting happened before processing them. Only the bunches that really proved to be perfect were sent by gravity to the old cement vats (1962), where alcoholic fermentation occurred naturally and without any addition of chemicals and / or yeasts. Then, part of the wine was transferred to age in in French oak barrels for 20 months. The remaining wine, after being cleaned from the bunches, aged in the same cement vat. During this stage, malolactic fermentation took place. 24 months later, a blend from a strict selection of each barrel was assembled for the Definido Red.

Jancis Robinson

Carlos Raposo Wines Dão Definido Tinto 2019 – 17.50 / 20 Points

Full bottle 1,319 g. Wax seal. Tinta Pinheira, Tinta Carvalha, Baga, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Fêmea, Tinta Roriz, Alfrocheiro, Jaen, etc. Vines aged 60–100 years old, mostly field blends. Fermented in small, restored 1960s concrete tanks. Part aged in the concrete tanks, and a smaller part in used French oak. Bottled July 2020.
Mid crimson with soft pink rim. Entrancing and seductive aroma that is pure, mostly red, fruit, a hint of spice but not intrusive oak, and a lovely stone-dust minerality. An impression of wild herbs but fully ripe. The tannins are gorgeous: refined, dry, moderate but perfectly framing the fruit. Mouth-wateringly fresh but not austere. This is delicious now but like all the best Dão reds, will age much longer in bottle, if you can wait. An elegant beauty that is pure pleasure with a long, dry finish. I try really hard to be objective in evaluating all wines but I have to say, this is my sort of wine..

– Julia Harding MW (30th June 2023).