An extremely age-worthy Portguese splurge! We review the 2016 Mouchao Alentejo Vinho Tinto.
Primarily Alicante Bouschet along with a small amount of Trincadeira from two different vineyards in Alentejo, Portugal. The wine was fermented in lagares (open stone troughs) and then aged for 4 years in very large 5000L barrels made of Portuguese oak and mahogany. That was followed by another 18 months in the bottle before release.
Sample submitted for review. The Mouchao Alentejo Vinho Tinto has an SRP of $66 and is available for as low as $50 (Saturday Splurge). It is imported by Winewise.
From the winery:
2016 Mouchao Alentejo Vinho Tinto
VINIFICATION: At Mouchão, all our red wines are vinified in open stone troughs, known as lagares. Whole bunches, including stems, are included in the maceration process making harvest timing especially critical to find the delicate balance between sugars, acids and overall phenological maturity, as well as stalk lignification. The handpicked bunches are foot-trodden twice daily and allowed to ferment for roughly 4-7 days. The wine then undergoes malo-lactic fermentation in large 5000L wooden tonéis. Racked in mid-winter, the wine then remains undisturbed for a further four years. Once bottled, it is matured in our cellars for a further 18 months before being released.
VITICULTURE: Responsible husbandry and care in the vineyard is critical for harvesting the best fruit and sustaining our healthy bee population. Vineyard plots and varieties are harvested separately. The Alicante Bouschet and Trincadeira were sourced from 27-year-old vines grown on the well-drained, alluvial loams of the Carrapetos vineyard. A low yielding vineyard block, contributing significantly to concentration, overall quality, and expression. The 19-year-old Dourada Vineyard, characterized by Mediterranean red loams and an underlayer of chalk, contributes a riper, plummier Alicante Bouschet.
GROWING SEASON 2016: Following a second consecutive dry winter, mid to end of season growing temperatures were unrelenting and the harvest arrived some 10 days early. Diligent winemaking ensured that quality expectations were exceeded, resulting in another great Mouchão.
TASTING NOTES: Intense garnet colour and aromas of spicy black fruit, plum jam, ripe olives with the underlying stemmy-minty hallmark. Wonderfully fresh and structured yet balanced and with exuberant tannins that guarantee its longevity.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Decant or open 12 to 24 hours beforehand, particularly before 2036. Best served at 17ºc, alongside roasts, game, or hearty casseroles.
Produced and Bottled by Mouchao e Cavaca
15% Alcohol
The 2016 Mouchao Alentejo Vinho Tinto opens with a wonderful aroma of dark fruit, touches of spice, a bit of mint, hints of forest floor, cedar and more. There is lots to find here as you swirl and sniff. And despite a decade of age it still smells very fresh. It’s a great start!
Taking a sip of the wine reveals it to be very smooth, very deep and dense. It features juicy fruit similar to nose with lots of layers of flavor and complexity to discover.
It ends dry, a bit grippy and very long and lasting and it was just as good on day 2. This is excellent and has at least another decade ahead of it.
You can also find more of our favorite wines from Portugal here.
Review Summary
Mouchao Alentejo Vinho Tinto Review • Reverse Wine Snob
An extremely age-worthy Portguese splurge! We review the 2016 Mouchao Alentejo Vinho Tinto.
10
Pros
- Delicious, 94+ Points
- Plenty of aging potential
Cons
- Expensive!
