Reguengos Signature 2002

16 / 20

Producer: CARMIM

Region: Alentejo

Country: Portugal

A special release to celebrate the centennary of the main church in Reguengos de Monsaraz, this Garrafeira is probably paired, quality wise, with the other top brand from CARMIM - the really great Garrafeira dos Sócios.

Nice evolution scents greet us, with raisins and dried plums appearing, then some dried leaves and spices and a nice touch of leather. Very subtle at first, it gains momentum and strength as it breathes, even revealing lively and sweet red fruits later on.

Feels very closed on the palate, showing some discreet jam and sweet red fruits but not much more. It has a delightful velvet-like feel to it, extremely elegant and really benefiting from the more tertiary notes. It still reveals a good acidity and a really nice structure, that grants it a good deal of life and persistence.

Nevertheless, it kept feeling closed, a bit difuse on the flavors. It feels like there's a lot it's just not showing. Maybe it needed a longer decantation or it's just going through a strange phase.

Aldeias de Juromenha Colheita Seleccionada 2009

15.5 / 20

Producer: Herdade das Aldeias

Region: Alentejo

Country: Portugal

Clear garnet in the glass, the bouquet is, at first, dominated by fresh red fruits - more on strawberries and cherries territory. Spices and a earthy feel also appear and, still later, tobacco leaves and other greener notes complete the bouquet. Somewhat different from a typical Alentejo, I think the Cabernet Sauvignon present in the blend has a lot of proeminence here - which is not bad at all.

Intense, almost jammy red fruit in the palate, in a very good balance with the oaky flavors and the spicier notes. Balanced tannins and acidity make it a very round, appealing and enjoyable wine. Nice, medium long ending and an overall good presence and structure, again with the Cabernet Sauvignon in the foreground.

Quinta de Alcube Castelão 2009

15 / 20

Producer: Quinta de Alcube

Region: Setúbal

Country: Portugal

Lively garnet on the glass, this red from Setúbal shows a not very open bouquet, with some intense sweet red fruit and some coffee also showing up. There's also some alcohol showing up on the bouquet, a reminder of the15% volume this carries.

Average bodied but showing a nice structure, lots of hard tannins still showing alongside with a fresh, edgy acidity. So, a very young red with just the right amount of red fruit, although it lacks a bit of complexity. And for my taste, the alcohol is too upfront, specially on the mid range ending. 

Reguengos Vinho Licoroso 2007

15.5/20

Producer: CARMIM
Region: Alentejo
Country: Portugal





This is a sweet wine from the Alentejo, a reminder that not all sweet wines from Portugal hail from Porto or Setúbal. Dark red in the glass, the nose shows a lot of red fruit along with some exotic wood feel and a sweeter, jammier side.

Feels very balanced in the palate, the sweetness well matched with a fresh acidity. Showing a good deal of sweet red fruit, this is an easy to drink, enjoyable wine that just lacks a bit of complexity to my taste. Finishes with lots of red fruits with a nice, lingering aftertaste.