Taste Profile                                                            Where it's from

Winemaster's View

A blend of indigenous Portuguese varieties Aragonez, Trincadeira, Alicate Bouschet and some Syrah this bright, youthful red is from the Alentejo region, east of Lisbon. Old vines are planted on soils rich in clay and limestone, on granite bedrock. Harvested at night to preserve freshness, the wine is full of dark berry fruit, with ripeness combined with fresh acidity. A great example of the more modern styles of red wines coming out of Portugal. - Andy Howard MW

About the Wine

Located about an hours drive east of Lisbon the Monte da Ravasqueira Estate lies in the Alentejo, and has been owned by the de Mello family for the last three generations.

Whilst the estate is vast (3000 hectares) only 45 hectares have been put to vine. The rest is cork and oak forest, arable crops and olive trees.

The Alentejo is a region of undulating plains and is hot and dry through much of the summer which turns out to be a perfect environment for the main indigenous grape varieties of Alicante Bouchet, Trincadira and Aragonez (Tempranillo in Spain).

This wine is made from a blend of these and also some Syrah, the grapes were harvested at night to preserve the flavours and also fermented at low temperature, producing a fresh, elegant yet versatile table wine.

Goes well with

A hearty, fruit driven wine with lots of character, this Portuguese red will be delicious with all types of meat, ranging from winter casseroles, steak au poivre or summer barbecued meats.

There is enough soft, ripe fruit here for this to be enjoyed on its own, or with all types of risotto or pasta dishes. A very versatile wine.

Summary