2019 Tinto Red 91WS/90WA
Fonte Souto
Alto Alentejo, Portugal

$24.99 6+ (code 6SAVES2)
$26.99

Grapes:
45% Alicante Bouschet
30% Syrah
25% Alfrocheiro

This red is built around the signature grape of Alentejo, Alicante Bouschet, with important contributions from Syrah and Alfrocheiro.

Winemaking:

• Hand-picked grapes are sorted, then destemmed and gently crushed
• Light pressing by pneumatic press
• A period of post-fermentation maceration follows to encourage the extraction of some tannin from the pips to complement those extracted from the grape skins
• 50% of the blend is aged 8 months in second and third year 400L French oak barrels.
  

My Tasting Note on the 2019:
The best bottling of this wine yet. Medium+ ruby red core with lighter red edges. Fresh notes of red to dark red fruits, berry and stone fruits (raspberry, cherry). Subtle licorice and savory spice notes, some crushed rock nuance and subtle lilac notes. The used French oak barrels impart no wood aroma or flavor nuances in the wine, just more texture that is open-knit and with refined tannins. Ample acids complementing a medium body and med+ flavors that confirm the nose. Med+ finish is solid and well done!

90 pts Wine Spectator
An elegant red, medium-bodied and focused, with fine, trim tannins structuring the pure range of damson plum reduction and black raspberry coulis, with iron, violet and bay leaf accents. Syrah, Alicante Bouschet and Alfrocheiro Preto. Drink now through 2029. 2,500 cases made, 250 cases imported.

90 Wine Advocate Robert Parker
The 2019 Tinto is a 45/30 blend of Alicante Bouschet and Alfrocheiro with the rest Syrah and old vines, aged in an equal mixture of stainless steel and used French oak for eight months. It comes in at 14.7% alcohol. Both fresher and earthier than its Alfrocheiro sibling in this report, this still isn't nearly as friendly or as fruity. Instead, you get a sterner flavor profile with beefy nuances and licorice, the bright fruits not nearly as apparent. It's beautifully focused, though, and it has a serious spine. If you don't mind things that are a little beefy, this works great. It should hold well, but it does need to open and become a bit more expressive. It's tight now. (7/22, 1.5 years ago)