Arribas Wine Company - NatCool Tinto 1L

Arribas Wine Company's NatCool Tinto is produced in the Trás-os-Montes region of Portugal, utilizing a field blend from old vineyards with an average age ranging from 70 to 100 years. These vineyards feature a mix of red and white grape varieties, sometimes with a significant proportion of whites, including Tinta Gorda, Malvasia, Bastardo, Serrana, Verdelho Vermelho for the reds and Verdelho, Malvasia, Posto Branco, and Bastardo Branco for the whites. The viticulture at Arribas Wine Company emphasizes traditional and sustainable practices in these old vineyards, which are situated at 550 and 650 meters on soils composed of decomposed granite, quartz, and clay. The farming is in transition to organic certification. Grapes are handpicked and transported in small cases to prevent damage.

The winemaking for NatCool Tinto involves minimal intervention. The grapes are foot-trodden in traditional lagares, followed by a short maceration period of around two days to allow natural fermentation with indigenous yeasts to begin without temperature control. After pressing, the wine finishes alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks. It is then aged on fine lees for approximately nine months. The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered, which may result in sediment over time.

Tasting notes for Arribas NatCool Tinto often describe it as a light and fresh red wine with aromatic intensity and a noticeable minerality. It typically exhibits present acidity that balances rustic tannins. Aromas of fresh fruit and floral notes are common descriptors. Some tasters have noted a light and juicy character, with potential hints of blueberry and blackcurrant. The winemaking aims to produce an easy-drinking style that retains the distinct characteristics of the regional grape varieties and terroir.