Textura Wines is a relatively new star from the Dão region of Portugal. At the Simplesmente Vinho fair this year I tasted their whole range. Recently Marcelo Araújo visited my region in Norway, and I got a welcome update. Marcelo came to Norvald together with Alexander Sandli from his importer Belmonte Beverage Group.
Partners in Textura are Marcelo, and his wife. It was started in 2018 on the slopes of Serra da Estrela. They work 28 ha of organic certified vineyards in Vila Nova de Tazem and Penalva do Castelo. And appropriate for a winery named Textura, in 2020 they acquired an old textile factory in São Paio, in the outskirts of the Serra da Estrela Natural Park, that is now renovated and incorporated into the winery. (Read a bit more here.)
At Norvald I tasted three wines. Pura Branco 2022 was produced from old vineyards, and the grape juice fermented in barrels and foudre without temperature control.
Light yellow with green hints. Aroma of yellow fruits, flowers and herbs. Good concentration, quite rich, still with a crisp acidity, with a long and salty aftertaste. A super wine, still in its youth.
Textura da Estrela Jaen 2020 comes from a single vineyard in Vila Nova de Tazem with 28 years old vines in granitic soils. It’s fermented with indigenous yeasts in cement vats, with 35% whole bunches. After the first winter in cement it spent 6 months in a French oak vats.
Ruby red. Aroma of red and dark fruits (cherry, blackberry), white pepper, and a hint of earth. Young tannins, fresh, nicely integrated acidity.
Pura Tinto 2020 is a single vineyard wine from a parcel at 600 meters altitude, with 55 years old vines planted in granite soils. It’s a field blend, the most important varieties being jaen, baga, alfrocheiro, tinto cão and tinta pinheira. The grapes were fermented in a used French oak vat with 40% whole bunches, only with indigenous yeasts. Then followed a post-fermentative maceration for 30 days. It aged for 16 months in a used French oak of various sizes.
Cherry red. Aromas of fresh red red and black fruits (cherry, blackcurrant), herbs and underwood. Full in the mouth, intense with fine tannins, a stimulating acidity and a pronounced mineral, earthy finish. A great wine with many years ahead.
