Quinta do Pessegueiro Rufete 2021

Quinta do Pessegueiro was bought in the mid-1980s by Frenchman Roger Zannier.
Today it relies on winemaker João Nicolau de Almeida, grandson of Fernando Nicolau de Almeida, creator of Barca Velha, to make its wines. West-facing, at altitudes between 197 and 355 metres, Quinta do Pessegueiro has 8.84 hectares of vines, most planted about 35 years ago, plus an old vineyard over 110 years old. For Roger Zannier, “the aim is to make one of the best wines in the Douro here".

It has a very pale colour, as is typical of the grape, showing absolute fidelity to the Rufete profile from the start. On the nose it's exemplarily varietal, with notes evoking damp earth, moss and mushrooms, wrapped in a discreet expression of fresh red berries.

On the palate it surprises with excellent presence and a remarkable acid structure that gives it tension, depth and huge personality. An absolute benchmark Rufete, full of brilliance, precision and finesse, showing rare elegance and distinctive character.

Extremely limited production of just 750 bottles — sadly too few for a wine of this stature.