PLEASE NOTE: This is a recurring auction. The seal number(s) you see on the photos might differ from the one(s) on your bottle(s). 2018 Ramos Pinto, Urtiga Red 1 x 0.75L DESCRIPTION Ramos Pinto was founded in 1880 and for several decades its history has been marked by innovation and respect for tradition. Producing and selecting the best grapes together with systematic knowledge of the terroir, Ramos Pinto is pioneering the launch of New Douro wines in Portugal and all over the world. Today, Ramos Pinto still keeps its position as a traditional house producing high quality wines. In the quest for excellence, Ramos Pinto is still, to this day, managed as an independent organization, which enables the pursuit of its extraordinary politics of own production and continuous technical and technological research. Ramos Pinto owns four estates in the Douro. Quinta do Bom Retiro and Quinta da Urtiga, in the heart of the region; Quinta dos Bons Ares and Quinta de Ervamoira in the Upper Douro. Our commitment is to improve our bond with nature and the environment through organic farming and increasing biodiversity, leaving this legacy of culture to future generations. Welcome to the Ramos Pinto Wine World! WINEMAKER: João Luís Baptista. AWARDS/RECOMMENDATIONS 96 Points, Robert Parker 95 Points, Decanter 91 Points, James Suckling 19 Points, 30 Best Wines of 2022, Vinho Grandes Escolhas Best of The Year 2022, Revista de Vinhos WINE VARIETIES: 63 different indigenous varieties. VINIFICATION Following regular visits to the vineyard, a date for the harvest is set, when a specialist team removes all the grapes that are not in perfect condition. Harvest begins in the morning of the following day. The grapes reach the winery in small boxes where the bunches are triaged, destemmed, crushed and forwarded to the granite lagar. Here, the grapes are trodden by foot, in the traditional manner. An initial tread on the first day is followed by the daily punch down of the cap, before pressing. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentations are completed without skins in French oak vats. The wine was aged in wood for 16 months, 90% in small wooden vats and the remaining 10% in new French oak casks. The expression of this vineyard was enhanced by the maturation in the small wooden vats, and the French oak casks balanced and fined-tuned all dimensions. Once bottled, the wine aged for over two years. TASTING NOTES Urtiga 2018 is a vivid crimson in color, with bright red reflexes and a fresh and profound aroma. This is followed most elegantly by a wide aromatic range: wood, wet soil, red berries and rock minerals. After being swirled, spicy aromas such as green pepper and clove are added to the fruit. The base note of this wine, which is its elegance, remains in the mouth with a silky entrance in which red fruit such as strawberries and cherries acquire prominence in crescendo. Urtiga 2018 has a long structured finish with mature tannins and extraordinary freshness and vivacity. SERVING We recommend pairing Urtiga 2018 with game, such as a partridge or wild boar. It is also excellent with ovenbaked fish such as grouper or sea bass. Serve at a temperature of 16ºC to 18ºC. Consume in moderation.