Mouchao Ponte das Canas 2019

Cellar for up to 7 years. No need to decant before serving. Herdade do Mouchao is a historic winery in Portugal’s Alentejo region that specialises in producing excellent red wines from the local Alicante Bouschet grape. The estate’s roots date back to the 19th century when Thomas Reynolds first moved from Porto to Alentejo to enter the prosperous cork-making industry. Later his grandson, John Reynolds saw an opportunity to start making both wine and corks and purchased the 900 hectare Herdade do Mouchao estate. Unfortunately the estate was seized in 1974 by order of the powerful military government ruling the country at the time. The Reynolds were only able to regain the estate in 1985 and today the family works around 38 hectares of vines. This luscious, juicy red is the younger brother of their flagship Tinto cuvee made in a lighter and more approachable style. The blend features Alicante Bouschet, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Shiraz grapes sourced from estate vineyards. As is traditional in the region, the grapes are trodden by foot in large open stone lagares or troughs and left there to ferment. The young wine is then aged in a combination of tropical hardwood casks and smaller barrels with bottling 18-24 months after the harvest.

Price: £18.37 from 8wines UK