Description

Casa da Passarella was founded in 1892, before Dão was demarcated as a wine region in 1908, and are founders of the region. The Dão is south of The Douro Valley, inland towards the Spanish border. Passarella is in the Serra de Estrela - very high, cold, and poor soils in the 'mountain to the stars', the pass separating Portugal from Spain. The climate is Continental, at an altitude of 600 meters, and allows for long hang times, resulting in sleek ripe tannins, excellent acidity, and overall freshness. The mountains protect from continental extremes of temperature and also from drenching Atlantic rains. Handling is traditional, in concrete vats and large old wood, with fruit manually crushed by ancient devices. Encruzado, Malvasia Fina, and Verdelho are very lightly pressed after brief skin contact. Co-fermentation after a bit of skin contact takes place in stainless steel before being left on fine lees for 6 months. Bottled straight from the tank, no oak aging. This is distinctively Dao, with salty-cold minerality heightened by clean and refreshing acidity. The palate takes you for a walk through the orchard; white peach and custard apple above, melon, wild fennel, and tarragon on the ground beneath. It has weight and texture but is refreshing and clean all at once. A testament to high altitude viticulture in this cool, continental region.