Roquette & Cazes 2022

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Roquette & Cazes 2022

Tasting

Appearance
A deep red hue with intense ruby reflections.

Nose
Highly complex, it unveils a beautiful aromatic intensity carried by notes of fresh red fruits and subtle hints of fine spices.

Palate
Structured and full of elegance, it offers silky tannins and stretches towards a wonderfully fresh and highly persistent finish.

Food and wine pairings
This red wine pairs wonderfully with roasted or grilled red meats, slow-cooked dishes in sauce, game, as well as aged hard cheeses or rich Italian specialities.

Serving and cellaring
To fully appreciate this 2022 vintage, serving between 16 and 18 °C is recommended. It offers immediate pleasure but also has cellaring potential, allowing it to evolve favourably for around 8 to 10 years.

Bordeaux elegance at the heart of the Douro terroir

The estate
Founded in 2002, the Roquette & Cazes company is the fruit of a deep friendship between two great wine families: the Roquette family, owner of Quinta do Crasto in the Douro wine region, and the Cazes family, at the helm of Château Lynch-Bages in Pauillac. Still run today by these two founding families, this singular brand of the Duriense landscape combines the richness of indigenous Portuguese grape varieties with Bordeaux technical expertise. The aim is to create great dry wines, both concentrated and elegant, perfectly reflecting this dual identity.

The vineyard
The grapes come from various plots located in the Douro Valley, notably in the qualitative sub-regions of Cima Corgo and Douro Superior. The vines, some of which are old, thrive on terraced schist soils, at altitudes ranging between 130 and 450 metres, benefiting from diverse exposures to ensure optimal ripeness.

The vintage
The 2022 vintage in the Duriense was characterised by particularly harsh climatic conditions, marked by intense heat and exceptional drought throughout the summer period. Nevertheless, thanks to the deep rooting of the old vines, the growing cycle was able to produce grapes of excellent quality.

Winemaking and aging
After manual harvesting and meticulous sorting, the berries undergo destemming and gentle crushing. Fermentation takes place in truncated conical stainless steel tanks under controlled temperatures, accompanied by rack-and-return. A post-fermentation skin maceration then allows for gentle extraction. Finally, this Portuguese wine is aged for around 18 months in French oak barrels.

Grape varieties
Touriga Nacional (60%), Touriga Franca (25%), Tinta Roriz (15%).