Quinta Dos Murcas Minas, Douro DOC

Description

Quinta Dos Murcas Minas is a medium-bodied red wine blend made from Touriga Franca, Tinta Francisca, Touriga Nacional, Tinto Cão and Tinta Roriz. It is produced by Esporao at their Quinta dos Murcas wine estate located in the Cima-Corgo sub-region of the Douro Valley.

History of Esporao

Esporao was founded in 1977 by José Roquette and Joaquim Bandeira. The company is most famous for its Herdade de Esporao estate in the Alentejo region but today the company has expanded to produce wines outside of Alentejo in the Douro (Murcas) and Vinho Verde (Quinta do Ameal) regions. The Quinta dos Murcas estate was founded in 1714 and is located between the towns of Régua and Pinhão in the Cima-Corgo sub-region of the Douro Valley. Today the estate comprises some 155 hectares and is planted with dozens of the region’s native grape varieties, as well as olive trees, orange trees and almond trees.

The modern history of the estate began in 1973 when Manuel Pinto de Azevedo purchased the estate and renovated and replanted the vineyards. The estate remained in his family until it was purchased by Esporao in 2008. The estate focuses on sustainable vineyard management and winemaking practices, aiming to preserve the unique terroir of the Douro Valley. From the 2021 vintage, all of the wines produced at the Murcas estate are certified organic and they are now one of the largest organic wine producers in the world.

Vineyards

The grapes for Quinta Dos Murcas Minas are sourced from vineyards located at altitudes between 110 and 300 metres above sea level planted on shale and weathered shale.  The 15 hectare hillside vineyard was planted between 1987 and 2011 with classic Douro red grape varieties including Touriga Franca, Tinta Francisca, Touriga Nacional, Tinto Cão and Tinta Roriz. The south-facing vineyards produce more highly concentrated grapes. These same slopes are graced with several natural springs, which refresh the area and help maintain a balance between greater ripening and the characteristic Murças freshness.

Quinta Dos Murcas Minas Winemaking

The grapes for Minas are hand-picked, destemmed, crushed, foot-trodden and then undergo temperature-controlled alcoholic fermentation using naturally occurring yeasts in granite lagares and pressed in an antique vertical press. The wine is matured for around nine months in a combination of 50% concrete vats and 50% used French oak barrels.

The 2022 vintage is a blend of:

• 40% Touriga Franca
• 30% Touriga Nacional
• 10% Tinta Roriz
• 10% Tinta Francisca
• 10% Tinto Cão