Terrenus Reserva Vinhas Velhas Red Vinho Regional Alentejano – 2016

This is winemaker Rui Reguinga’s most important red – a field blend of ten local varietals from 90 year old vines grown on granite and schist soils at around 700mts altitude. The grapes were foot trodden, in typical Douro/Port style, then left on their skins for four weeks in cement lagares. The wine then matured for two years in 225 litre French oak barrels – one third new – and spent a further two years in bottle before release.

This wine has a deep garnet colour and mature aromas of spice, tobacco, and ripe red fruits. It is full bodied, round, smooth and mellow in the mouth, with firm underlying tannins in the background suggesting it will drink very well for at least 10 more years. Complex and structured with very rich, ripe red fruit flavours intermingled with mature, cigar-box spiciness. A classic Portuguese red for long-keeping. 14% alcohol. Enjoy with strongly-flavoured game dishes or foods with spicy, mushroom sauces. 415 cases were produced. Drink now – 2035.

“The 2016 Terrenus Reserva Vinhas Velhas is a field blend from 90-year-old vines (principally Aragonez, Trincadeira, Grand Noir and Alicante Bouschet in roughly 20% chunks, plus others like Castelão, Alfrocheiro, Moreto and Baga) at 650 to 700 meters in altitude, aged for 22 months in 50% new French oak. It comes in at 14.3% alcohol. This is fresh but solid, expressing its beautiful fruit well. There are nuances of red fruits and beef, mingled in a broader medley. It shows off good concentration to go with some power, even with the 2016 late release. This seems exceptional and likely to improve. Rui thinks it is easily a 20-year wine if you hold it, perhaps more. I agree.” 93+/100 Wine Advocate