Antonio Madeira A Palheira Tinto 2018 Dão DOC

The António Madeira A Palheira 2018 is a rare old-vine red from the foothills of Serra da Estrela, crafted from two of the finest historic vineyards farmed by António Madeira. Produced in the challenging yet remarkable 2018 vintage, this wine represents the very best red wine the estate achieved that year.

The wine combines fruit from two exceptional vineyards: one planted around 60 years ago, dominated by Baga, and a second vineyard over 100 years old, whose distinctive pink granite soils contribute a unique mineral character. The quality of these parcels was so outstanding that they were bottled separately rather than incorporated into the estate's flagship Vinhas Velhas blend.

The 2018 growing season was one of the most difficult in the estate's history. Three months of persistent rain between April and July, followed by four days of intense 45°C winds, resulted in the loss of approximately 60% of the crop. Despite these challenges, the vintage yielded wines of remarkable purity, concentration and identity. It was also the estate's first biodynamic vintage.

Minimal-intervention winemaking lies at the heart of the project. Fermentation occurred naturally in traditional open lagares using indigenous yeasts, with very gentle extraction to preserve site expression. The wine was then matured for 18 months in seasoned French and Austrian oak barrels before bottling in July 2020.

Tasting Notes

A wine of exceptional purity and character, showing fresh red fruits wrapped in granite minerality, with aromas of white cherry, flowers, wild herbs and pine forest. The palate is deep, fresh and energetic, supported by silky tannins, remarkable finesse and an endless mineral finish.

Wine Details
Producer: António Madeira
Region: Dão – Serra da Estrela, Portugal
Vintage: 2018
Vineyards: Two old-vine sites
Average Vine Age: 60 and 100 years old
Soils: Granite, including pink granite
Grape Varieties: Field blend of 20 native Portuguese varieties, led by Baga
Viticulture: Biodynamic
Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts, traditional open vats (lagares)
Oak Maturation: 18 months in used French and Austrian oak barrels (225L and 600L)
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: Only 2,000 bottles
Food Pairing

A superb match for lamb, duck, white meats, roast poultry and traditional codfish dishes, where its freshness and mineral complexity can shine.

Cellaring

With its concentration, acidity and structure, A Palheira 2018 will continue to evolve beautifully over the coming decade, gaining further complexity while retaining its trademark freshness.

An exceptional old-vine Dão red, combining the elegance of Baga, the mineral character of ancient granite soils and the distinctive voice of one of Portugal's most exciting biodynamic producers.