Cellar Profile
Antonio Lopes Ribiero and Sara Dionisio left their steady jobs in the art world in Lisbon and moved back to Mouraz, Antonio’s birthplace where his family has had vineyards for many generations. The land had been farmed organically before, and that’s how Sara and Antonio wished to continue. Making wine in their tiny winery, adjacent to the local village church and just a stone’s throw away from the house Antonio was born in, they have deep generational ties to their village, Mouraz, and its terroir. In the cellar, there is a marriage of old and traditional, with modern approaches. Gentle pressings, natural yeast starters, long lees contact in the wine and minimal handling are the time-honored practices. Stainless steel tanks with temperature control and pneumatic presses represent the modern improvements. The results are clear: fresh and pleasurable wines with pure expressions of the older grape vines from which they were sourced and distinct transparency to the terroir they have grown up on.
Region
Alentejo covers about a third of all of Portugal! The most popular source for Portuguese red wines, it is demarcated by 8 different sub-regions. The weather tends to be extremely hot during the summer growing season, with cold winters. There are differing soil types, predominantly schist and granite, but there are also some areas with a large amount of limestone. The area is hilly throughout, but also encompasses the São Mamede mountain range on the border with neighbouring Spain.
Vineyard
Old vine vineyards in the south of Alentejo. Clay and schist soils underneath barren, rocky terrain. These vineyards are farmed biodynamically with care taken to preserve the ecological diversity.
Winemaking
Grapes were hand-harvested during the cool evenings in early September. Co-fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel, followed by 12 months in aged French oak.
Varieties
Alicante Bouschet, also known in some parts of Portugal as Tinta Francesca, is a crossing between Grenache and Petit Bouschet. Able to withstand hot days without becoming overripe, it is a red fleshed variety known for giving elevated alcohol levels and having tremendous amounts of juice on the flesh. Touriga Nacional adds the structure and elegance to the juicy Alicante.
Tasting Notes
Juicy and approachable. Bright red and black fruits on the nose and palate. There is a surprisingly good spine of acidity and a touch of tannic structure. Notes of ripe raspberry, black cherry and mocha, with some cooling menthol and a touch of baking spices on the long finish. Try this with a hearty stew, or perhaps some pulled pork.