Arribas Wine Company was founded in 2017 in a small garage in Bemposta, in the municipality of Mogadouro, in the historic Trás-os-Montes region. The project's goal from the start has been to make authentic wines that express traditional technique, indigenous grape varieties and old vineyards, and 'Quilómetro' is a fine showcase of that craftsmanship — grown on ancient vineyards and crushed the traditional way, by foot in stone lagars.
It's a composite field blend of red and white grapes — Tinta Gorda, Tinta Serrana, Bastardo, Rufete, Alvarelhão, Alfrocheiro, Verdelho, Malvasia, Bastardo Branco, Posto Branco, Formosa and others — from vines over 70 years old, grown at 600 metres altitude. The mix of red and white varieties gives the wine freshness and finesse, while ageing in oak adds balance and depth.
The 2021 fruit was hand-picked into 20kg cases on the 22nd and 23rd of September, then transferred as whole bunches into a closed vat for 15 days of carbonic maceration. Foot-treading followed, lasting a further 15 days with the aim of minimal extraction throughout. Fermentation happened entirely on wild yeast, with no temperature control, before the must moved into chestnut and used French oak barrels for 12 months' ageing. The wine was then transferred back to stainless steel for an additional 18 months before bottling — unfined, unfiltered, and left as natural as possible. As a result, some sedimentation may appear over time.
The result is a lively, vivid ruby red wine with an oceanic, iodine-tinged nose layered over cherry, balsamic herbs and Mediterranean scrub — think thyme and rosemary — with lavender emerging on the finish. The palate is juicy and dynamic, framed by a silky, graceful tannin structure and a distinct savoury, mineral edge. 11.5% alc.