Cortes de Cima Chaminé Tinto 2020

Cortes de Cima farms in the warm, arid Alentejo of southern Portugal, where Hans and Carrie planted red varieties from 1988 against the local grain. Chaminé Tinto is built on Syrah and Touriga Nacional with Alicante Bouschet, Trincadeira and Aragonés, a blend of international and Portuguese grapes suited to the region's hot days, dry summers and poor, schist and clay soils. The low rainfall and intense sun ripen the fruit fully, giving deep colour and ripe tannin, while Alicante Bouschet, a teinturier grape with red flesh, deepens the colour and adds body. The wine is aged twelve months in oak barrels and twelve months in stainless steel; the steel preserves the bright fruit while the oak rounds the tannins and adds spice through slow oxygen exchange with the wood. The colour is deep red. The nose shows ripe cherry, blackberry and plum over black pepper, dried herbs and a touch of oak. The palate is full and warm, with rounded tannin, dark chocolate and a savoury, spiced finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees. It pairs with grilled beef, roast lamb and roasted vegetables.