Lua Cheia-Saven - 'Andreza', Douro Reserva, Portugal (2019)

TASTING NOTES

Juicy and complex, an over-delivering bistro red. Ripe red plums and raspberries, graphite, violets, hot rocks minerality and baking spices. Elegant and well-structured.

70% of the wine aged in second and third year French barriques for 10 months; the rest of the wine aged in stainless steel.

Lua Cheia-Saven is a Portuguese wine producer founded by winemaker Francisco Baptista and businessman Manuel Dias in 2009 and produces wines from some of the most important regions in Portugal, such as Vinho Verde, Douro, Dao, and Alentejo. Francisco received a degree in Agri-Food Engineering and a degree in Oenology at the university of Tras-os-Montes in 1994 and Alto Douro in 1999. Manuel, who sadly passed away in 2019, was a businessman, the guiding force behind the creation of Saven S.A and who liked to ‘create businesses in reverse and with no funding’.

Collectively Lua Cheia-Saven has over 40 hectares of vineyards in Vinho Verde & the Douro which they farm organically. In partnership with local growers, who also farm organically, they have access to a total of 200 hectares – including sites in Alentejo and Dâo. Portuguese laws do not allow for the transportation of grapes between regions, so Lua Cheia-Saven operates 5 different wineries across Portugal with a dedicated team at each winery.

Quinta do Bronze is a single estate of 20 hectares, with narrow, terraced vineyards, an ancient winery (that is being lovingly restored). This remarkable place is the source of some old field-blend vineyards, a resource which is slowly becoming lost as many winegrowers choose to replant with mono varietals.