Medieval de Ourém is a historic palhete from DOC Medieval de Ourém in the northern part of the Lisbon wine region, between the coast and the Aire and Sicó mountain ranges. The style goes back to Cistercian methods: mostly white grapes with a smaller share of red for color, spice, and structure.
The base material is old vines with a high proportion of Fernão Pires, complemented by Trincadeira. The result is a lighter red with fresh acidity, low extraction, and a strong sense of place, made with restrained oenology and indigenous yeast.
On the nose, red fruits mingle with spices; on the palate it unfolds in layers: first fresh red fruit, then a darker tone of black fruit, followed by spice. The acidity is lively and the whole is silky rather than tannin-driven.