2020 Luis Seabra, Indie Xisto Tinto

A Portuguese red marvel. Luis Seabra is one of the superstar new wave growers to emerge from Portugal during the last decade, and his wines are pleasure-driven benchmarks that proudly show Luis’ skill in winemaking. Polished, clean, and soulful from a field blend of very old vines in the Douro Valley, where they used to only make port but during the past decade we’ve learned that you can make very compelling reds. From a sustainably farmed single vineyard of blue schist soils at 1500 ft elevation in the Douro, planted since 1950. Luis Seabra actively hunts for old vines, as he’s convinced they are not only uniquely able to transit terroir, but also able to withstand the pressures of global warming while retaining elegance and poise. A classic Portuguese field blend of Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Amarela, with trace amounts of Tinta Barroca, Rufete, Touriga Brasiliera, Dozelinho Tinto, Malvasia Prieta, and Touriga Femea. A versatile red that can likely fit any context where you’d think of pairing a red wine!