£9.50–£11.75, The Wine Society, Cellier UK, Noble Green Wines, Great Grog, Cheers Wine Merchants, Roberts & Speight, Delicias, The Little Fine Wine Co
Like the Petit Verdot that was a Wine of the Week last month, this is a red that seems to hit the holiday mood by delivering a whole lot of pleasure and an equal amount of character at a very reasonable price.
It’s dark, succulent and smooth, with rich damson and elderberry fruit overlaying some softly savoury, stony notes, just enough tannin to give it shape, and the sort of polished freshness that keeps you coming back for more. In cellar conditions, you could even keep it for another two or three years.
The red Monte Velho (there’s a white too) is a blend of Tempranillo (known in the Alentejo region as Aragonez), Trincadeira, Touriga Nacional and a smidgen of Syrah and it’s vinified without oak.
The 18-year-old vines are in soils of granitic schist with clay and are cultivated without herbicides or pesticides on the extensive, sustainably managed and biodiverse Herdade do Esporão estate in Portugal’s sunny Alentejo region.
The purple-red colour makes it look as if it’s a wine destined for red meat, and it does pair with steak, lamb and stews (including with olives), but it doesn’t have the kind of chewy tannins that need red meat. Try it with pork, especially slow roast, with spicy sausages, duck, hard cheeses and veg dishes such as ratatouille or vegetables caramelised with soy or balsamic and honey. 13%. Empty bottle weight: 420g.
Esporão Monte Velho 2022, Alentejano, Portugal
£9.50, The Wine Society; £9.49, Cellier.co.uk; £9.90/£10.90, Noble Green Wines; £10.25, Great Grog; £10.95, Cheers Wine Merchants; £10.99, Roberts & Speight; £11.49, Delicias UK; £11.75 The Little Fine Wine Co
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