HERDADE DO ESPORAO Reserva Tinto - Alentejo 2021/22 MAGNUM - VEG/VGN/ORG

Description

IN BRIEF
Herdade do Esporão Reserva Tinto Alentejo is a prestigious red wine with a significant history, being the first wine produced by Esporão in 1985. Exclusively crafted from grapes sourced from the estate, it showcases the unique character of its terroir. The winery employs integrated production methods that promote sustainable agriculture, enhancing grape quality while committing to environmental stewardship. The grapes are hand-picked and vinified in small, temperature-controlled vats for precise fermentation management. Aged for 12 months in a mix of American and French oak barrels, the wine presents an intense ruby red colour. The nose reveals black fruit jam and warm spices, while the palate is complex with dark chocolate flavours and ripe tannins, resulting in a persistent finish. Rated 92 points by The Wine Advocate, this wine is ideal for special occasions.

ABOUT THIS WINE
The vineyard practices at Esporão employ integrated production methods, focusing on the rationalisation of natural resources and the use of natural regulation to promote sustainable agriculture. This approach not only enhances the quality of the grapes but also reflects the winery's commitment to environmental stewardship. The grapes for this Reserva Tinto are hand-picked, ensuring only the best fruit is selected for vinification.

The wine is vinified in small, temperature-controlled vats, allowing for precise management of fermentation. Following fermentation, it is aged for 12 months in a combination of American and French oak barrels, which impart additional complexity and depth to the final product.

In appearance, the Reserva Tinto showcases an intense ruby red colour, indicative of its richness. On the nose, it reveals an enticing bouquet of black fruit jam, complemented by warm spices such as black pepper and cloves, along with nuanced notes of coffee berries and cigars. This aromatic complexity sets the stage for a delightful tasting experience. On the palate, the Herdade do Esporão Reserva Tinto is complex and layered, with flavours of dark chocolate and spices harmoniously integrated. The wine's structure is supported by ripe tannins, leading to a persistent finish that lingers beautifully.

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THE WINE ADVOCATE 92 points
Reviewed by: Luis Gutiérrez
Drink Date: 2026 - 2033
The 2022 Reserva Tinto was produced with a multi-grape blend of Alicante Bouschet, Trincadeira, Touriga Nacional, Aragonês and Cabernet Sauvignon from granite and schist soils that fermented in stainless steel, concrete vats and marble lagar, with malolactic in stainless steel, and matured in French and American oak barrels, 20% of them new, for 12 months. It has a serious nose that is Mediterranean, spicy and smoky, with notes of dry hay and straw, ripe fruit and a hint of iron. It's medium- to full-bodied, with abundant tannins and some oak flavors. It comes in at 14% alcohol, with a pH of 3.61, finishing very dry. Wait a bit. 500,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2024.