Scala Coeli Tinto Syrah 2022 – Alentejo Regional Wine

Grape varieties: Syrah

Vines: Over 30 years old

Soil type: Granite

Analytical data: Alcohol (%) – 15.5; Total acidity (g/l) – 5.1; pH – 3.89; Total sugars (g/l) – 0.6

Energy value: 91 kcal/ml (382kJ/100ml)

Harvest: 2022 was one of the hottest and driest years on record across Western Europe. In Portugal, drought conditions prevailed during the first nine months, with 80% of the country experiencing severe drought between May and August, followed by a striking episode of heavy rain in the middle of harvest, confronting viticulture with almost unprecedented challenges. During the dormant period, winter was mild, although rainfall was low. The mild spring temperatures led to early budbreak and rapid vine growth. Summer was extreme, with water shortages and several heatwaves in August, affecting the vines and resulting in smaller berries and difficult, highly uneven ripening. A year that called for attention to detail, patience and courage in the vineyard. By the end of the harvest, the outlook had changed: ripening progressed evenly and fruit quality was high after the September rains, with Syrah demonstrating its adaptability and quality in the Alentejo terroir.

Harvest: Hand-picked on 5 September. The grapes were cooled in a cold room (12ºC), then optically sorted in the winery. Pre-fermentation cold skin maceration for 5 days, followed by alcoholic fermentation in French oak vats using indigenous yeasts (present on the grapes), aiming to bring out greater expression of this non-native variety in the Alentejo terroir. Post-fermentation maceration for 20 days, followed by malolactic fermentation and ageing in 225-litre French oak barrels, both new and once-used. All grape transfers were carried out by gravity to preserve the grapes’ quality potential as much as possible.

Ageing: 15 months in French oak barrels, followed by 16 months in bottle in the cellars of the Cartuxa Monastery.

Recommended drinking period: 2025 to 2040

Serving temperature: 16ºC to 18ºC

Tasting note: Deep in colour. Excellent aromatic complexity, with ripe fruit, blackberries and plum, as well as subtle oak notes, balsamic hints, a touch of chocolate and spices. Very elegant. Powerful on the palate, with texture and concentration, a fine tannic structure, balanced acidity and enveloping fruit. Dense and persistent. Pedro Baptista | Duarte Lopes

Note on the technical sheet and vintage: This description is based on the latest technical sheet provided by the Eugénio de Almeida Foundation. The vintage offered for sale is the one stated in the title and in the “Vintage” field (2022), subject to stock availability. If in doubt, please contact us before purchasing to confirm.