We’ve reviewed many Portuguese wines over the years, and many of those were from the Alentejo. There’s a simple reason for that, as this region produces our favorite Portuguese wines. The region is in the south, and hot. They’ve been making wine here for millenia, and making red blends for just as long. Portugal has as many indigenous grape varietals as any region in the world. In the wines of the Alentejo, you’ll find many of these on display. Classic Portuguese varietals such as Alicante Bousquet, Trincadeira and Castelão are prevalent. You’ll also find some Touriga Nacional, a well known standard in Portuguese wines (although not one of our favorites). Aragonez makes an appearance, and this is the local name for what you likely know as Tempranillo.
What makes the Alentejo even more interesting is their use of international varieties as well. You might find Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot in a blend. It is a great mix of old and new, traditional and modern. Think about a Portuguese version of a Super Tuscan.
We have a few new wines from the Alentejo to review here, all red blends. Let’s see what’s in the bottles:
Wine: 2017 Herdade de São Miguel Colheita Seleccionada Red
Winery Location: Alentejo Region, Portugal
Tasted By: Neil & Cheri Date: February, 2021
Tasting Notes: this is blend of 50% Alicante Bousquet, 30% Touriga Nacional, 10% Syrah and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. 2017 was a third consecutive year of drought in the Alentejo, and the grapes ripened very early. Extended lees contact adds depth and color, and the wine was aged in large French oak vats for four months. The result is a dark, ruby colored wine with a restrained nose at first. The palate was also disappointing out of the bottle, with almost sour fruit and an earthy taste that tended toward dirt. Let this air though, and wondrous things happen. The second day it had a rich nose filled with fruit, including berries and some cherry lurking underneath. There was also oak, a touch of menthol and some herbs, along with tobacco. On the palate it was rich and full bodied, with beautiful fruit, medium tannins, great balance and a very long finish. Definitely decant this for an hour or two. After it opens it is a beautiful wine. 13.5% alcohol.
Price Point – $15
Would We Buy It? – this is an insane value at this price point. We would definitely buy this without hesitation. Value List material for sure.
And another one:
Wine: 2016 Esperao Red Reserva
Winery Location: Alentejo Region, Portugal
Tasted By: Neil & Cheri Date: February 2021
Tasting Notes: this juice is a blend of Aragonez, Trincadeira, Cabernet Sauvignon and Alicante Bousquet. Each varietal is harvested and processed separately. It spends 12 months in American and French oak. Also a dark, ruby red, this wine is full of red fruit on the nose. Cherry and ripe berry are joined by herbal notes and forest floor. It has long legs on the glass. Full bodied and rich on the palate, there is a beautiful fruit core. Tannins are brisk. It is integrated now, and very enjoyable, but it will improve with some extended age. This is going to last a very longtime. We revisited this the second day, and it too had changed a bit. It was fuller, with blackberry, mouth coating fruit, Overall it was smoother, and very long. Another excellent wine and a Value List addition. 14.5% alcohol.
Price Point – $24
Would We Buy It? – absolutely. This also drinks well beyond its price point.
And finally:
Wine: 2016 Cartuxa Colheita Red
Winery Location: Alentejo Region, Portugal
Tasted By: Neil & Cheri Date: February 2021
Tasting Notes: a blend of 40% Alicante Bousquet, 40% Aragonez and 20% Trincadeira, the wine sees 12 months in French oak barrels with additional aging in bottle. This is dark ruby with a nose of plum, currant and ripe strawberry. You also get some herbs and oak. The palate is more about the plum fruit, and there is a savory quality to this as well. At the end it cascades into coffee cream. Medium tannins go along with medium body, good balance and a nice long finish. This is a great food wine, and we had it with meatballs in basil and garlic sauce. The wine has a nice acid ridge which worked well with the tomato sauce. 14% alcohol.
Price Point – $25
Would We Buy It? – Yes. This is also a good value, although not quite in the same category as the previous two wines. Still, it possesses an excellent quality to price ratio and is a great dinner wine.
The Alentejo consistently produces world class red wines, which should be on every red wine lovers list of options. Special values abound, and are worth looking for.
A votre santé!
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