Quinta da Fonte Souto Alicante Bouschet Red

80% of the lot aged in second year French oak barrels for 14 months. The grapes are harvested into small boxes and received in the property’s cellar. The grapes are harvested into small boxes and received in the property’s cellar. Manual sorting is followed by destemming and gentle crushing, after which the grapes are transferred to fermentation vessels using a peristaltic pump. Fermentations are followed individually and temperatures and maceration movements are adjusted in order to maximize the potential of the grapes. A period of post-fermentation maceration is carried out to promote the extraction of tannins from the seeds — complementary to the tannins from the skins — in order to favor the structure and accentuate the aging potential. Wide aromatic expression: forest floor, bush, pine needles and discreet fennel notes, later giving way to black fruits (blackberry, blueberry), black plum and traces of licorice. In the mouth some chocolate, mushroom/truffle and hint of smoked, showing the good integration of the barrel. Monumental in the mouth, with several layers providing fascinating complexity. Refined tannins combine with good acidity (discreet, but present), enhancing the formidable structure. Eminently gastronomic wine with great potential for long aging.