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Encosta da Quinta

Humus Carbonica 2018

Price: $28.95
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Tasting notes

Carbonic maceration on Syrah in an Atlantic-influenced Portuguese terroir is a genuinely unusual combination — the result is juicy, low-tannin, and fresh, with red fruit and a mineral edge that you don't expect from the grape. It drinks more like a Loire red than an Iberian one, and that's exactly the point.

BodyFruitTanninAcidity
RaspberryBlack PepperEarthWildflowers
  • Style: Dry, light-bodied red; carbonic Syrah; red fruit, spice, mineral finish; Vinho Regional Lisboa
  • Grapes & Terroir: 100% Syrah; organic certified (Sativa PT, since 2007); clay and limestone soils; ~150m elevation; Atlantic-influenced microclimate
  • Winemaking: Carbonic maceration; aged in stainless steel; unfiltered, unfined, zero added sulfites
  • Serving: Serve at 55-60°F (light chill recommended); no decanting needed
  • Pairing: Grilled sardines, charcuterie, Serra da Estrela cheese, roasted chicken, vegetable dishes
  • Similar To: For fans of carbonic Gamay and light natural reds who want an Atlantic Portuguese twist

Humus Carbonica is a 100% Syrah grown on the clay and limestone slopes of Quinta do Paço in Alvorninha, within the Vinho Regional Lisboa appellation. The vineyards sit at approximately 150 meters above sea level, positioned between the Atlantic Ocean and the Serra dos Candeeiros range. Certified organic by Sativa PT since 2007, the vines benefit from cool Atlantic breezes and high humidity that slow ripening and preserve natural acidity.

Winemaker Rodrigo Felipe uses carbonic maceration for this wine — whole clusters ferment intact in a CO2-saturated environment — which extracts vivid red fruit and keeps tannins low and texture smooth. After fermentation the wine rests in stainless steel tanks with zero oenological additions. It goes to bottle unfiltered, unfined, and with no added sulfites.

The result is a light, fresh red that leans on fruit and acidity rather than structure or oak. Aromas of red fruits and spice lead, with an herbaceous edge from the Atlantic microclimate and a subtly mineral finish. This is the kind of wine to drink with a slight chill.

The wine's low tannins and bright acidity make it a natural match for charcuterie boards, grilled sardines, or a plate of aged Serra da Estrela cheese. Serve it lightly chilled alongside roasted chicken or vegetable-based dishes. It also works well as a patio wine on its own.

Wine details

Dry/Sweet:, Dry
Wine Type:, Red Wine
Wine Style:, Light Body
Grapes:, Syrah
Farming:, Organic
Vintage:, 2018
Alcohol:,
Country:, Portugal
Region:, Lisboa
Appellation:, Vinho Regional Lisboa
Bottle Size:, 750ml
Sugar Level:, Zero Added Sugar

We will process and ship your order in 2-3 business days, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking as soon as the Carrier scans the shipping label.

Ground shipping time depends on location, here's a breakdown:

West Coast: 1-2 business days
Midwest: 3-4 business days
East Coast: 5 business days

Process time is not shipping time. Shipping time starts from the days successive to the day of shipping, after the order has been processed.

See here our shipping policy.


Important Compliance Requirements

FedEx and other carriers we might occasionally use can only deliver wine to customers who are 21 years or older. Someone must be at the address to receive the package, carriers don't just drop a package and leave. They must ensure the person receiving the wine is 21 or older.


Re-shipping a Package

If a package is returned to us after three failed delivery attempts, we can only re-ship the wine upon payment of a re-shipping fee, to be determined based on the shipping address and number of bottles. Shipping wine is extremely expensive. We are sorry about this, but we have no other choice. Please make sure there's always someone at the address you enter as your shipping address.

If you'd like to receive a refund for a package that was returned to us after FedEx made three delivery attempts, we can do that but we must keep a $20 refund fee; FedEx charges us a lot of money for returns, unfortunately, I can't stress this enough.


Re-routing a Package

If you'd like to reroute a package after it's been shipped, we can do so for a $20 re-routing fee. We cannot re-route a package across state borders. For any change of address, please contact us as soon as possible, ideally within 1-2 days from placing the order or we cannot guarantee we'll be able to reroute or change your order's shipping address.


Canceling an Order

If you'd like to cancel an order after it's been shipped, we can do so upon payment of a small cancellation fee – the amount depends on the size of the order. Carriers charge us a lot of money to recall a package en-route.


Heat/Frost damage

We are not responsible for heat- or frost-related issues. We offer ice-packs upon request. Please let us know if you think that there could be heat-related issues. If we don't hear anything from you regarding weather issues before an order is shipped, or if you don't request a hold due to the weather, we are not responsible for heat/frost damage.


Placed an order. What next?

1. You will receive an order confirmation email with your order summary.*

2. As soon as your order ships from the warehouse, usually within 2-3 business days, this applies to all shipping rates, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with your tracking information. 2DAY shipping refers to shipping time; we still need 2-3 business days to prepare an order. We need to pick and pack, QA, add printed collateral, and palletize the orders.

3. Please track your package using the tracking service.

4. The carrier will attempt delivery a maximum of 3 times. After 3 delivery attempts, your package will be sent back to our warehouse.**

*Please ensure your email address is correct; otherwise, you will not receive the order and shipping confirmation emails.

**If delivery is attempted 3 times without success, or if you fail to retrieve your package from the carrier depot by the stated deadline, the shipping fee will not be refunded to the customer.

Returns Policy

If you are not satisfied with your purchase, please contact us at (424) 414-2040 or via e-mail at hello@primalwine.com between 9 am and 5 pm Pacific Standard Time, Monday through Sunday, we would like to understand and try to solve your concerns. We can offer refunds only as store credit.

Producer profile

Encosta da Quinta

Encosta da Quinta operates under the Humus label at Quinta do Paço, a 20-hectare family property in Alvorninha, near Caldas da Rainha. The estate was purchased by Rodrigo Felipe's grandfather in the 1960s. His father planted the first vines on the property in the early 1990s, primarily for personal use. Rodrigo, who trained as a civil engineer, took over the farming and winemaking operation around 2000 and made his first commercial Humus wine in 2009.

Rodrigo farms approximately 9 to 10 hectares of vines at around 150 meters above sea level on clay and limestone slopes. The estate has held organic certification from Sativa PT since 2007. In the vineyard he uses natural compost and minimal copper and sulfur treatments only when necessary. Red varieties planted include Castelão, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca, and Syrah; whites include Fernão Pires, Arinto, and Vital. Rodrigo has noted that he planted Syrah in 2002 after observing strong results from others in the region.

In the cellar Rodrigo applies minimum intervention across his range. For Humus Carbonica, he uses carbonic maceration, rests the wine in stainless steel tanks, and adds nothing — no fining agents, no filtration, no sulfites. Harvest decisions are made by tasting rather than by technical targets, allowing the cool Atlantic microclimate and the long, slow ripening season to determine the right moment to pick.

Wine region

Lisboa, Portugal

The Lisboa wine region stretches along Portugal's Atlantic coast north of Lisbon and encompasses nine DOC appellations including Óbidos, Alenquer, Arruda, Torres Vedras, and Encostas d'Aire, among others. Producers who fall outside strict DOC grape or stylistic rules may instead label their wines under the broader Vinho Regional Lisboa designation, which permits a wider range of varieties including Syrah. The region sits roughly 80 to 150 kilometers north of Lisbon and is heavily shaped by Atlantic influence.

Within the Lisboa region, the Óbidos sub-zone where Quinta do Paço operates sits at around 150 to 200 meters above sea level between the Atlantic Ocean and the Serra dos Candeeiros range. Cold, wet westerlies blow in from the Atlantic through gaps in the hills, keeping temperatures cool and extending the ripening season well into October. The dominant soils are calcareous limestone with clay, which retain moisture and contribute to the naturally high acidity that defines wines from this area. Principal red varieties across Lisboa include Castelão, Touriga Nacional, Trincadeira, and Syrah, with Arinto, Fernão Pires, and Vital leading for whites.

Frequently asked question

We will process and ship your order in 2-3 business days, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking as soon as the Carrier scans the shipping label.

Ground shipping time depends on location, here's a breakdown:

West Coast: 1-2 business days
Midwest: 3-4 business days
East Coast: 5 business days

Process time is not shipping time. Shipping time starts from the days successive to the day of shipping, after the order has been processed.

See here our shipping policy.

Signature on delivery is mandatory for wine deliveries. Please make sure someone is at the shipping address to sign for the package.

If applicable, please consider delivering the package to a business address to ensure someone is available to sign for the package.

We also have the option of delivering the package to a Carrier's store for pickup. Please reach out to us to coordinate.

Carrier will try to delivery a package up to three times before returning the package to us.

See here our shipping policy.

If you miss a delivery and a package gets returned to us we have two options:

1) Reship the package right away: due to the very high cost of shipping and returns, we must charge a re-shipping fee to be determined based on package size and shipping destination.

2) Consolidate the returned package with your next order: this option is free of charge and it's the most popular option.

See here our shipping policy.

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