Mira do O Vidente Dao Tinto 2016
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Winemaker Notes
Ruby color. Nose with hints of cinnamon, cherry, cocoa and a fine vegetable aroma. The mouth is very elegant and delicate, with silky but tense tannins that linger through the long after taste.
The Druids were wise men and philosophers of Celtic civilizations, whose duties extended to justice, medicine, history and poetry. Their main connection was with the earth and the planets and their quest for spiritual equilibrium through the balance of nature. so does the viticulturist and winemaker inconstant search for balance between the soil, the climate and the vines so they can attain the perfect wine, the perfect sensory balance.
Mira do O wines are just that, a pursuit for balance with the utmost respect for nature. This is a personal project, driven by passion for wines filled with freshness, elegance and aging potential. The Dao is a region that is famous for providing these qualities. Rich in history, with its high altitude vineyards and granite soils, its cool climate and its indigenous varieties.
These are handcrafted wines made from small and very special vineyards located on a plateau of 500 meters of altitude, on the right bank of the river Dao. Winemaking takes place in a small cellar of stone, established in the middle of the vineyards. It is minimum intervention winemaking where the main goal is the expression of the grapes and the region.
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
Producing some of the country’s most dignified and mineral-driven red wines, Dão is positioned in north central Portugal where granite mountains surround and shelter the region from any Atlantic maritime influence. Summers are long and warm; winters see abundant rainfall.