Roquette & Cazes : Xisto 2015

A great Douro wine with a subtle Bordeaux style, sustained by an unparalleled freshness and complexity

The estate

Roquette & Cazes is the product of a meeting between two friends and two know-hows through a shared dream. Jorge Roquette, from Quinta do Crasto in Portugal, and Jean-Michel Cazes, from Château Lynch-Bages, combined their talents to produce very fine wines. This union gave rise to wines marked by the particular features of the Douro Valley and the typical style of Bordeaux from the Cazes family, which has been established on the Pauillac appellation for nearly a century.

The vineyard

The 2015 Xisto is made from very beautiful vineyards, owned by Jorge Roquette and Jean-Michel Cazes, in the sub-regions of Cima Corgo and Upper Douro. There, schist-based soils nourish 25- to 90-year-old vines.

The wine

Xisto is a wine which brings together the unique character of the Douro grape varieties with the extraordinary fineness of the Bordeaux style.

Winemaking and ageing

After the manual harvests, which were carried out with the greatest gentleness, the grapes were taken to the winery to begin a custom-made winemaking process. They were first carefully destemmed and gently pressed. Fermentation was carried out in stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature. Offloading occurred during fermentation to maximise contact with the must. Thanks to this French technique, the wine is concentrated, complex and full of elegance. Subsequently, it was aged in oak barrels for 20 months.

Blend

Touriga nacional and touriga franca, along with other local varieties from old vines.

Tasting

Colour

The 2015 Xisto features a deep, purple colour.

Nose

The aromatic bouquet is sustained by aromas of red fruit, perfectly harmonised by delicate notes of fresh spices, giving the wine a great complexity.

Palate

The 2015 Xisto is an intense and elegant wine. Full-bodied, this bottling offers balanced, silky tannins with beautiful notes of red fruits. The finish is also greatly balanced with a beautiful length, giving this wine an extraordinary freshness.