Description
Country : Portugal
Grape Variety : Alicante Bouschet; Trincadeira; Aragonez.
A darkly fruity, velvety red from the prestigious Mouchao winery in Alentejo. This is no shrinking violet, but the bold flavours are balanced by structure and elegance. A delicious glass of red.
Tasting Note : Deep blackberry fruit on the nose. The palate is full-bodied and rich, with full black and red fruit flavours, layers of spice, hints of dark chocolate and a long finish.
Food Pairing : Char-grilled red meats; roasted vegetables; tomato-based casseroles; steak au poivre.
More info : Alentejo is a large area stretching from Lisbon to the Algarve. Dotted with vines, olive and cork trees, the area boasts a warm, dry climate ideal for wine production. The main grape varieties planted here are Alfrocheiro, Alicante Bouschet, Trincadeira, Aragonez and Castelao – all Portuguese varietals which give the wines of the region their own distinct character. The Dom Rafael is produced on the Herdade do Mouchao estate, which prides itself on using traditional methods. This wine, however, is produced by more modern techniques making it more approachable and easy drinking in style than its big brother, Mouchao.
Winery : The Herdade do Mouchao estate, with its plentiful cork trees, was originally purchased in the late 1800s by Englishman, John Reynolds, to supply the cork business run by his father. In the early 1900s vines were planted on the estate, and today 38 hectares are under vine. The estate is principally known for its flagship wine, Herdade do Mouchao, which is produced by totally traditional methods, including foot-treading of the grapes in large cement ‘lagares’. This is a big, rustic beast of a wine with a totally unique character, which requires several years to mature before being ready for drinking. The Dom Rafael range was produced as a more approachable selection, in terms of both style and price.
