2022 Casa da Passarella ‘A Descoberta’ Dao, Portugal

Serra da Estrela, revitalized by Ricardo Cabral in 2007. Under winemaker Paulo Nunes, it crafts elegant wines from 100 hectares of vines. Its storied past includes a mysterious 1942 box, found empty in 2010, symbolizing the winery’s rediscovery and commitment to expressive, terroir-driven wines. A Descoberta Tinto pairs beautifully with Dão’s local cuisine. Grilled chouriço sausage, with its smoky spice, enhances the wine’s peppery notes. Kid or Cabrito assado as we call it, slow-roasted goat from Serra da Estrela, complements the tannins and the warm alcohol. For a vegetarian match, roasted chestnuts or a bean stew with local herbs echo the wine’s earthy, herbal character, tying it to the region’s rustic flavors. Drink now or in 4,5 years. Definitely recommend decanting and serve at 16 degrees.  Why do we like it? The 2022 Casa da Passarella A Descoberta Tinto, a blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Alfrocheiro, and Jaen, is fermented in stone lagares and aged in cement tanks and old wooden vats. It offers spicy black pepper, cherry-choc fruit, and wiry herbs, with supple tannins and mineral freshness. This elegant, savory red is fleshy, breezy, and charmingly complex. Grape           Touriga Nacional blend Country        Portugal                                Region          Dao                         Vintage         2022