Very impressive on the nose, with sleek pure notes of plum, blackberry and black cherry with subtle spicy notes. Very fine texture and concentration with refined tannins, beautiful and long finish.

A field blend of old vines with more than 30 different varieties. Five distinct plots surrounding the Pintas vineyard in the Pinhão Valley, with slightly different sun exposures and altitudes to give complexity.

Hand harvested, partially de-stemmed and foot trodden in stone lagares during the fermentation process of 10 days. Ageing and malolactic conversion took place in French oak barrels. Maturation for 18 months.

Sandra Tavares da Silva and Jorge Serôdio Borges began their adventure in 2001. In the beginning, the young couple had no vineyards and no wine, but they shared a dream, a personal project to which they have devoted themselves body and soul.

The name Wine & Soul is the product of their passion and total commitment to wine. From the start, this company’s work has focused on a tireless search for exceptional vines in the Pinhão Valley – the historic heart of great Port wines – to give them a voice.

Wine & Soul embodies the spirit of a new wave of top quality Douro Wines, sourced from very old vineyards, low yields, limited production showcase the character of each particular vineyard and the very special nature of each unique terroir. Wines crafted with minimum intervention, letting nature and terroir take the lead and speak for themselves.

"Old vines, more than 30 different varieties. From the Vale de Mendiz in the Pinhão Valley. The harvest started on 4 September and finished on 23 September in perfect weather conditions. Grapes partially destemmed and foot-trodden in stone lagares during all the fermentation process (10 days). The ageing and malolactic fermentation took place in French oak barrels during 18 months.
Very dark cherry red with almost-black core. Fragrant with extremely pure, peppery dark fruit, with as much a rocky/stony mineral aroma as a fruity one, and just slightly floral on the day after opening. On the palate, compact but extremely fine tannins, layer upon layer. Bone-dry and balanced with the intensity of not-too-sweet fruit. Elegant, both fruity and savoury. So utterly Douro in character and with immense length. I am sure this is one of the best vintages of Pintas Character I have tasted. Drink to 2034."
17.5 points.
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com (November 2023)

"The 2021 Pintas Character was produced with grapes from old, small plots around the original Pintas vineyards that were planted with a mixture of over 30 grape varieties on very poor schist soils with less iron, newer soils and very shallow, where Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca dominate. It was fermented in stainless steel and matured in barrels. It's fully ripe at 14.5% alcohol and generously oaked (only 10% of the barriques were used), but there is less than in the past, and it has good freshness and balance, with some austerity, notes of berry fruit and some resin. It's full-bodied and has grainy tannins. It should get polished with some more time in bottle, but it's still more approachable than Pintas. Drink to 2032."
93 points.
Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate (April 2024)