Ilustres Desconhecidos Rabigato 2022

Ilustres Desconhecidos Rabigato

2022

Ilustres Desconhecidos is a collection of singular and expressive wines brought to life by the creativity and skill of our winemakers. This wine comes from the vineyard of Tapadinha, in the Rio Torto Valley (in the Cima Corgo subregion of the Douro). This parcel has over a dozen white grape varieties planted at 580 m, where we have been assessing their performance and investigating the best blends. This experimental vineyard is the ideal launchpad for our new collection of wines that tell hitherto unknown stories about our terroir.

The three months leading up to the vintage were among the hottest and driest ever recorded in the Douro, with a succession of heatwaves, unprecedented in their scope and duration. We had — until the end of August — 70% less rainfall than the 30-year average and the soils were visibly parched. However, it was quite extraordinary just how well the vines were looking with few vineyards showing signs of hydric stress - a testament to their resilience and adaptability to harsh conditions. Once again, we broke our record for the earliest ever starting vintage, beginning to pick from August 22nd. September brought a considerable drop in temperatures both by day and by night, and the importance of this cannot be overstated, easing the strain on the vines, and providing propitious conditions for maturations to progress. It is incredible that the Douro has come through such trying conditions, delivering wines at a level of quality that many would not have believed possible at the start of the vintage.

Ilustres Desconhecidos

Ilustres Desconhecidos

Douro Wine

Douro DOC White

Douro DOC Rabigato White

Charles Symington and Pedro Correia, assisted by the Symington DOC Douro winemaking team.

Produced from grapes grown at the vineyard of Tapadinha (Rio Torto Valley).

100% Rabigato

13 %

6.4 g/l (tartaric acid)

1.2 g/l

2023

The wine aged sur lies in the Flextank for a few months following fermentation. Bottling occurred during the summer of 2023 to ensure maximum preservation of the primary aromas. The wine was then aged in bottle until it was released in 2024.

0.4 g/l (acetic acid)

3.28

Smooth de-stemming followed by crushing and static clarification of the must. After these steps, the wine ferments in a 400L Flextank, a reservoir made of porous material that allows fermentation and the subsequent ageing, with oxygen exchanges but no interference in aromas. This choice reflects the approach of revealing what each of these grape varieties can offer in terms of organoleptic features, without any exogenous interference. Sulphurous additions and contact with oxygen were minimized, resulting in a tendentially reductive winemaking. The result is the purest sensory profile that we can obtain.

Floral and fragrant with notes of honeysuckle and wildflower meadow, followed by notes of wild apple and Rocha pear. Creamy and seductive on the palate, punctuated by crisp acidity that provides elegance and balance. Hints of minerality give way to an appealing sensation of clarity and purity. The aftertaste suggests discreet notes of persimmon and medlar. Beautiful white with a distinctive character and formidable identity.

Ready for immediate enjoyment. Serve between 2024 and 2026.

10°C - 12°C

Rich fish dishes, sushi or similar.

Contains sulphites.

Yes

Yes

76 Kcal/100 ml