Carcavelos Villa Oeiras 7 Year Old, Lisbon (37.5cl)

Aged for 7 years, the ‘basic’ Carcavelos is full of fruit. Sweet orange and dried stone-fruit, plus a light honeysuckle floral note. The moderate ageing has contributed a hazelnut and almond nuttiness (marzipan due to the sweetness). The palate is sweet but well balanced with caramel and biscuit notes creeping in.

Pure and long, a very tasty dessert wine.

Villa Oeiras is a wonderful new producer making old wines. The old estate of the Marquis de Pombal is now under the ownership of the local authority, and they are investing in their heritage to revitalise the vineyard areas and the almost-forgotten style of wine that is Carcavelos. The Villa Oeiras project was established in 2001, but only now are they releasing their wines, having required years of patience in the development and ageing of old reserves.

The Villa Oeiras winery, Adega do Casal da Manteiga, is right next to the majority of their vines, north of the town. Once barrelled, the wines are aged in the traditional cellar halls of the Palacio do Marques de Pombal on the main estate in the centre of town.

Manual harvest. Fermentation is stopped through the addiction of wine brandy 77% (from Lourinhã Region – Portugal) in the middle of the process. Aging in Portuguese and French oak for an average period of 7 years.