Nicolau de Almeida, Monte Xisto Orbita 2022

Monte Xisto Órbita 2022 is a distinctive Douro red from Nicolau de Almeida, offering a more restrained, less extracted expression of the estate’s signature style. Built around Touriga Nacional and parcels from Quinta do Monte Xisto, it reflects the family’s long-standing focus on purity, balance, and terroir-driven wines from one of Portugal’s most compelling wine regions.

Tasting Notes
This wine is expected to show a deep, vibrant colour with a polished, elegant profile rather than heavy extraction. The nose should combine dark berries, wild herbs, and subtle floral tones, layered with the Douro’s hallmark mineral, stony nuance. On the palate, it is likely to be structured yet supple, with fresh acidity, fine tannins, and a precise, savoury finish that speaks clearly of the schist soils and varied exposures of the vineyard. With its careful, restrained élevage in cement and large-format oak, Monte Xisto Órbita 2022 should age gracefully over the next several years, developing more complexity, earthiness, and aromatic depth while retaining its freshness and tension.

Production
The fruit comes from Quinta do Monte Xisto in Douro Superior, near Vila Nova de Foz Côa, where the dry climate, steep slopes, and ancient schist soils create ideal conditions for expressive red wines. The vineyard benefits from a rare range of exposures influenced by the Vilariça fault, allowing grapes from both cooler north-facing and warmer south-facing sites to contribute freshness, structure, and ripeness to the final blend. Harvesting is done by hand, and the grapes are transported in 20 kg boxes to preserve quality. Vinification takes place in cement tanks using indigenous yeasts, followed by 18 months of maturation in cement and 600-litre barrels at the family’s cellar in Vila Nova de Gaia, where the maritime conditions support slow, balanced ageing. The result is a wine shaped by meticulous, low-intervention winemaking and a clear respect for the character of the vineyard.

Food & Serving
This is a natural match for roast lamb, grilled beef, game birds, wild mushroom dishes, and rich stews with Mediterranean herbs. Serve it at around 16–18°C, and consider decanting for about 30 to 60 minutes if you want to fully open up its aromatic layers and soften the structure.

Producer
Nicolau de Almeida is a family-run estate led by João Rosas Nicolau de Almeida, together with his sons Mateus and João, both trained oenologists. The family has built a strong reputation for crafting authentic Douro wines that closely reflect the region’s terroir, particularly its schist-rich soils and complex exposures in Douro Superior. Their work is widely respected for combining tradition, precision, and a deep understanding of the landscape, making the estate a noteworthy name in modern Portuguese wine.

We deliver within 2 - 6 business days. You can choose whether it should be to a parcel shop or home delivery. Free delivery to both parcel shops and your front door. Our store partners primarily use GLS, DPD, UPS and DHL for deliveries. We cover deliveries to the majority of countries in Europe.