Last month I wrote about the wines of Alentejo, the broad region southeast of Lisbon. During a recent trip I tasted many more wines than I could fit into one column, so this month I continue the tour through some standout producers and labels from the region.
At Dona Maria I sampled both wines made from Portugal’s native varieties and those using international grapes, and I found strong examples in both styles. The white Amantis Reserva 2015, produced from the French Viognier grape, delivers concentrated fruit, a rounded mouthfeel and a pronounced finish. Dona Maria Red Wine 2015 is an inviting blend that pairs Portuguese varieties with mostly French grapes; the result is balanced, approachable and perfumed.
The Dona Maria Touriga Nacional 2015 highlights Portugal’s premier red variety. Its aromatics are vivid and immediate, and on the palate it offers fresh fruit notes with a crisp, apple-like quality. The wine finishes long and clean, leaving a memorable impression.
The Dona Maria Grande Reserva 2013 is a more ambitious cuvée, blending Alicante Bouschet and Touriga Nacional with Petit Verdot and Syrah. These grapes were traditionally foot-treaded and fermented in old stone lagares, producing a wine with depth, structure and a distinct sense of place.
Herdade dos Grous presented a solid lineup beginning with the Branco Reserve 2017, a full-bodied white that fills the palate with ripe flavors and texture. The Herdade dos Grous 23 Barricas 2016 is a concentrated, well-structured red where Touriga Nacional and Syrah work together to create a powerful, balanced wine.
The estate’s single-vineyard 2016 leans on Alicante Bouschet, a variety widely planted across southern Europe and especially common in Alentejo. That grape’s adaptability is evident again in Herdade dos Grous Red Reserva 2015, which blends Alicante Bouschet with Touriga Nacional and Tinta Miúda. The wine is well integrated, with lively acidity and a long finish, making it an excellent companion for a cheese course.
My final stop was Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, where the Touriga Nacional shows lively, expressive character with spicy notes and subtle oak and vanilla influence. The tasting concluded with Antão Vaz 2016, a white that is smooth, silky and elegant — an apt and graceful way to close a visit to Alentejo.