2016 Colinas de Sao Lourenco - CalCariO3 do Principal Tinto (750ml)

Colinas de São Lourenço is in the village of São Lourenço do Bairro, near Anadia, in the heart of Portugal’s Bairrada region. Sílvio Cerveira, a local businessman and former mayor of Anadia, founded the estate in 2001 to make top quality wines and help revive the area. Its modern winery moves the wine by gravity. The original eight hectares of family vines have grown to about 80 hectares, and the property became the first estate of the IdealDrinks group, home of the Principal label.

CalCariO3 do Principal is named for calcium carbonate, after the limestone-rich clay soils of Bairrada’s famous limestone zone. The vineyards sit on gentle hills with an Atlantic-influenced climate sheltered by the Caramulo and Buçaco mountains. The vines are densely planted and never irrigated. The Touriga Nacional, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot grapes are picked and sorted by hand, then fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel. The wine ages more than two years in French oak barrels, followed by a long rest in bottle before release.

The 2016 is deep ruby with aromas of black fruit, cedar, leather, and graphite. It’s full-bodied and powerful, with firm but polished tannins and lively acidity that leads to a long, mineral finish. It’s drinking well now and pairs nicely with roast lamb, roast beef, or aged meats.