This wine is packed in 3 pack OWCs (special wood cases) but can be purchased as a single bottle.

93 pts Wine Enthusiast
Celebrating the natural richness of powerful Alicante Bouschet, this wine is dense and concentrated. Its juicy black fruits are impressive and show fine maturity.

93 pts Wine & Spirits
Remarkably fresh for a 2015, this wine holds a lasting cool, as if inured to the hot African winds that blast across the Alentejo plain. The fruit has raspberry brightness, concentrated dark-cherry depths and umami richness. For a steak seared black and blue.

Technical Details

• Variety: 100% Alicante Bouschet
• Harvest: Hand-picked
• Fermentation: Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in small concrete tulip tanks
• Élevage: One year in French oak—30% in 5,000-liter foudres and 70% in 550-liter barrels—followed by at least two years in bottle
• Bottled: July 2017
• ABV: 14.5%  Total acidity: 6.6 g/L  pH: 3.54
• Winemakers: David Baverstock and Sandra Alves

The fruit came from three distinct vineyards:

• Vinha dos Andorinhos, Herdade do Esporão: Vines over 15 years old planted on schist-derived sandy-loam soils
• Vinha das Palmeiras, Herdade dos Perdigões: Vines over 25 years old on deep, well-drained granite and clay soils
• Vinha do Machuguinho, Portalegre: Vines over 15 years old at approximately 400 meters, planted on granite-derived sandy-loam soils

The warmer Reguengos de Monsaraz sources provide the wine’s depth, concentration and texture, while the higher-altitude Portalegre vineyard contributes freshness and energy. The winery describes 2015 as dry and warm but without damaging heat extremes, producing intensely aromatic, persistent fruit. 

• Body: Full
• Acidity: Medium
• Tannin: Medium-plus to high, now becoming more polished with bottle age
• Serving temperature: 60–65°F
• Decanting: Approximately 45–60 minutes
• Drinking window: Now–2032, assuming sound storage
• Food pairings: Grilled ribeye, lamb shoulder, short ribs, venison, smoked meats or aged hard cheeses

Our Take

Alicante Bouschet can sometimes be all color, weight and power, but this is a much more complete and compelling expression of the grape. The 2015 is deeply colored and still youthful in appearance, with concentrated black plum, dark cherry and blackberry joined by dark chocolate, cracked pepper, leather and a savory, almost meaty undertone.

The palate is full-bodied and powerful, but it is not heavy or clumsy. There is enough acidity—helped by the higher-altitude Portalegre fruit—to give the wine energy and keep its dense, dark fruit moving. The tannins remain substantial, although a decade of bottle age has softened their edges and allowed the fruit, oak and developing savory notes to come together.

This is entering a very good stage of maturity now: still rich and fruit-driven, but beginning to show the leather, earth, spice and umami complexity that only comes with bottle age. Give it some air and serve it with a well-seared steak or slow-roasted lamb. For anyone unfamiliar with serious Alicante Bouschet, this is a convincing example of how structured, complex and age-worthy the variety can be.