Hermits are wines made from the same grape variety, Rabigato. Each wine is from a separate parcel, all having in common that they are in the Douro Superior, with a Mediterranean/continental climate, south facing and in the schist soil from the Desejosa Formation with small differences in rocks and altitude. Despite being vinified in the same way, the parcels give rise to different wines! Thus, the different “telluric information” that each place transmits becomes evident.
Moderately deep soil and more schist with a micro fall of quartz across the plot, 500altitude
Wine maker
Mateus Nicolau de Almeida was Portugal's Young Wine maker of the year in 2014. He and his wife Teresa Amatzoy - the celebrated Spanish wine maker - work together producing their amazing wines.
Mateus Nicolau de Almeida, comes from a family long associated with the Douro. With two new projects which are as exciting as anything his family has done in the past: the Trans Douro Express, and the Eremitas (Hermits).
Mateus’ grandfather made Barca Velha, arguably the most iconic and historically important dry wine made in the Douro, paving the way for all that came after him. More recently, in 1994, Mateus’ father, João Nicolau de Almeida, created Quinta do Monte Xisto in a vineyard he planted in Vila Nova Foz da Côa, in the Douro Superior. Mateus uses organic, and biodynamic practices in his vineyeards.