Esporão Reserva Red

After a dry and cold winter, an early rainy spring followed restoring soil moisture levels suitable for the beginning of the vegetative cycle. The fact that spring temperatures and even mid-summer temperatures were milder than in previous years led to a delay of the cycle but allowed for good plant development. In early August, a heat wave of five consecutive days, with temperatures exceeding 43 degrees and accompanied by strong gusts of wind, caused severe damage in varieties more sensitive to this type of conditions, leading to production losses. However, in most of our vineyards, where grape varieties are better adapted to these events, maturation occurred slowly and regularly thus preserving the freshness and aromatic intensity of white wines and the texture, concentration and complexity of red wines.

Soil type: Granite/schist origin with clay/loam structure.

Average vineyard age: 18 years

Alicante Bouschet, Touriga Nacional, Aragonez, Syrah, Trincadeira, Cabernet Sauvignon, Touriga Franca

Each variety harvested separately, destemmed, crushed, temperature controlled alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel vats, concrete tanks and small marble basins, pressed, followed by malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks.

12 months in American (60%) and French (40%) oak barrels. After bottling, the wine aged 8 months in the bottle.