Xisto Ilimitado Branco 2019 (Douro) $28 50% Rabigato, 20% Codega, 15% Gouveio (aka Godello), 10% Viosinho from 30-45 year old vines on steep terraced slopes in Cima Corgo, not far from the Spanish border in northeastern Portugal. Fermented mostly in large used barrels with the rest going in steel tank, then aged for a year on the lees in used barrel, bottled unfined, but lightly filtered. Chablis comparisons are easy to make with focused minerality and a core of compact ripe citrus. For fans of medium to full bodied whites, we really can't recommend this one high enough. This is really something special.
Xisto Ilimitado Tinto 2018 (Douro) $28 30% Touriga Franca, 20% Tinta Amarela, 20% Tinta Roriz, 10% Rufete, 10% Tinta Barroca, 5% Malvasia Preta, 5% Donzelinho Tinto, again from terraced vineyards in Cima Corgo. All of the fruit is left whole cluster, then 30% is foot crushed and fermented on the skins in stone lagar for 8 days, then the other 70% in steel vats for 25 days, then it's all racked off to large old barrel for a year, then bottled unfined and lightly filtered. Ripe dark red and blue fruit, baking spice and crushed rocks. Perfect comfort wine for these colder days.