Wine Review of 2016 Casa Agrícola Alexandre Relvas Heredade de São Miguel Colheita Seleccionada Tinto, Vinho Regional Alentejano, Portugal
Score: 89+/100
This red wine by Heredade de São Miguel comes from the Alentejo region in south-central Portugal.
It is made from a blend of Alicante Bouschet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Touriga Nacional grapes.
Machine harvested, it was vinified in stainless steel tank, bofre 50% of the wine was matured in 400-Litre French oak barrels during 6 months.
Tasting Notes
This Alentejo Portuguese red comes in a pretty dense and dark red color indeed. Nearly black to the core, a dark red to the rim, looking youthful and concentrated.
The nose is dominated by fruity aromas, from fresh balckberry, perhaps even raspberry, strawberry jam, but more distinctively some pungent white and black pepper notes.
It’s very spicy and ripely fruity to smell at!
Clove and licorice intensify the smell which overall feels dark and concentrated, yet still youthful and shy from being in a young age, but with potential.
The palate is more talkative and open. A generous oily texture comes with very soft and smooth tannins. Powerful warming jammy red berry fruit flavors explode on your palate, lifted up and boosted by a wealth of peppery, nutmeg, clove and other sweet spices. It’s a burst of sensations, generously fed by the wine’s apparent alcoholic warmth.
The finish is filled with notes of dark chocolate, some coffee and caramel, slightly smoky, probably a controlled oak influence there.
I regretted this opulence and generosity comes at the cost of a faded acidity, a brighter one would have brought the wine to a further extent of liveliness.
Overall
A generous, very fruity, ripe and juicy red wine, delivering layers of punchy fruit and spice flavors in a world of richness and smoothness that is built to please palates in search for tasty fragrant opulent reds.
Wine & Food Pairing?
Definitely a dry red to be paired with juicy grilled meats. The typical wine that will bring your steak or any other tasty/spicy meat dish to the next level, adding spices and powerful flavors, and certainly withstanding strongly-flavored dishes.
Enjoy 🙂
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