Quinta do Poeira is the personal project of celebrated winemaker Jorge Moreira (chief enologist of Quinta de la Rosa and Real Companhia Velha), set on the steep slopes of the Pinhão Valley in the Cima Corgo. Because Poeira faces due north, its vines escape the scorching afternoon sun of the Douro, allowing for slow phenolic ripening and the retention of natural acidity that runs counter to the region's reputation for heavy, over-extracted reds.

"44 Barricas" is an artisanal micro-cuvée composed strictly from 44 hand-selected French oak barrels. Fermented in traditional stone lagares with minimal intervention and aged for 16 to 18 months in French oak (roughly 20% new), the 2021 release is defined by lift, fresh fruit, and elegance: wild blueberries, crushed cassis, rockrose (esteva), wet slate, and dark chocolate, held together by fine-grained, chiseled tannins.

Why You'll Love It

• Crafted by Jorge Moreira from cool, north-facing schist terraces in the Pinhão Valley.
• Limited-production micro-cuvée named for the exact 44 selected barrels that comprise the blend.
• Balances the classic dark fruit depth of the Douro with Northern Rhône-like freshness and aromatic lift.

How To Serve It

• Serve at cool room temperature between 60°F and 64°F.
• Decant for 45 minutes to let the floral rockrose and graphite aromatics open up.
• Pour into Bordeaux stems to frame its structural lines.
• Pair with roast lamb, grilled picanha, braised oxtail, or roasted game birds.