Luis Seabra "Xisto Illimitado" Tinto 2021

Press 4 Red • August/September 2026 Direct Press Selection

Luis Seabra is another one of the small cadre of winemakers directly responsible for moving Portuguese wines into it's current era. He showed early interest in shaking things up when he worked for Port producer Niepoort, leading their project to make dry, unfortified wines. This was the first time in 300 years a Port house had done this, so it was no small feat to pull off. In 2013 he went out on his own and today lives in the Douro, where he and his wife Natalia make wine from eight hectares of vines pieced together from micro parcels in the Douro and Vinho Verde. Seabra looks for the really treacherous vineyards that bigger commercial operations won't touch. From these rugged vineyards he is sparking a renewed interest in wines of terroir from Douro and Vinho Verde. Seabra is possibly one of the most well-known winemakers on the international scene, and you'll frequently see his wines at top restaurants. 

Xisto Illimitado is from two steep vineyards reaching 2000 ft. elevation on opposing sides of the Douro River, planted on schist (xisto in Portuguese). It comes from the Douro sub region of Cima Corgo, where Mateus Nicolau de Almeida also makes a red highlighting the area. It's picked as a field blend of 30% Touriga Franca, 20% Tinta Amarela, 20% Tinta Roriz, 10% Rufete, 10% Tinta Barroca, 5% Malvasia Petra, 5% Donzelinho Tinto. Grapes are fermented whole cluster in stone lagar and concrete vat and aged in neutral oak for a year. Deep blueberry and rustic animalistic notes, with grippy, layered tannins. A chewy, tangy finish with snappy cranberry and mineral depth brings it all home. A great wine for anything that's been on the BBQ, whether lamb or grilled vegetables. Jonathan Kemp