Torre do Esporão Red

Reviews and awards:
95 points Robert Parker;
. 95 points Wine Enthusiast Magazine;
19 points Grandes Escolhas Wine;
18.5 points Wine Magazine.

Torre do Esporão is the ultimate expression of the year's unique characteristics, combined with the singularities of our territories and the expertise of those who make it. Made to last, it represents Esporão's ambition to produce the best wines that nature offers, in a responsible and inspiring way.

AGRICULTURE

Autumn and winter were colder and rainier than the previous year, with the highest rainfall and lowest temperatures recorded between November and February. Even so, temperature and rainfall were within the average values ​​of the last 18 years. Spring had higher temperatures than in 2016, leading to an earlier onset of phenological stages, but the warm and dry weather of this season ensured the healthy development of the grapes. The beginning of summer was warmer than in 2016 (+2.0ºC), which led to an earlier start to ripening. The months of August and September ended up having lower temperatures than in 2016, with the grapes ripening more quickly and sugar levels being higher, resulting in fuller-bodied white wines with notes of ripe fruit and rich, concentrated red wines.

Herdade do Esporão (75%):

Vinha do Canto do Zé Cruz (Aragonez) – Vineyard planted in 1980 at an altitude of 200 meters. Soils with a sandy-loam texture, with the presence of some stones from the parent rock – granite, after the first 20 meters it abruptly transitions to clay.

Vinha do Rochedo (Touriga Franca) – Vineyard planted in 2005 at an altitude of 200 meters. Soil originating from a transition between schist and granite with a sandy-clay-loam texture.

Badeco Vineyard (Touriga Nacional) – Vineyard planted in 1988 at an altitude of 200 meters. Soil of schistous origin with a loamy to silty-loam texture.

Herdade dos Perdigões (15%):

Vinha das Palmeiras (Alicante Bouchet) Vineyard planted in 1996 at an altitude of 225 meters. The soils are quite clayey and deep, with good drainage.

Farmers' Property (10%):

Vinha do Machuguinho (Alicante Bouchet) – Vineyards planted in 2003 at an altitude of 400 meters, where sandy soils of granitic origin predominate.

VINIFICATION / AGING

Throughout the harvest, we closely and meticulously monitored the ripening stages, so each plot and grape variety was harvested separately according to its profile and origin. In 2017, the Aragonez was harvested on August 21st, earlier than usual. The Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional arrived at the winery on September 11th, the Alicante Bouschet from Perdigões on September 14th, and the Alicante Bouschet from Lavradores on September 29th. After the harvest, the Aragonez began alcoholic fermentation in marble lagares with foot treading and finished in concrete vats where it underwent malolactic fermentation. It was then racked and stored in 5000-liter vats. The Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional grapes co-fermented in marble lagares (traditional stone troughs) with foot treading. After pressing, they were transferred to 500-liter second-year French oak barrels, where they also underwent malolactic fermentation and remained for 18 months. Both plots of Alicante Bouschet fermented separately in concrete vats. They underwent malolactic fermentation in new 500-liter French oak barrels, where they remained for another 18 months.

Aged for 18 months in new and second-use 500-liter French oak barrels and 5000-liter vats. This was followed by at least 3 years of bottle aging.

COLOR: Dense, almost opaque.

AROMA: Complex and concentrated with notes of blueberry fruit combined with hints of dark chocolate liqueur, licorice and some fresh mint. Notes of spices and oak are very well integrated.

PALATE: On the palate it is deep, compact, creamy, dense and precise, with a silky texture, a long finish and full of character.