WINES OF THE ALENTEJO, PORTUGAL
26th August 2002 at Esmirada Mediterranean Restaurant & Wine Bar, Orchard Hotel

A Briton, Mr. Peter Adderson, who worked this region before his semi-retirement in the Algave, Portugal, offered these wines for consideration.

These wines are a result of new-found investment in a hot, dry region of Portugal, far away from the rich & well-established Port producing region in the North.

Here, in the south of Portugal, just hours inland from the touristy & sunny beaches of the Algave, is the poor region of ALENTEJO. The wines, they produced, used to feed the drunken thirst of millions of tourists that flock to the beaches of the Algave. Nevermind the quality, just cheap & good quaffing wine to go with the simple roast chicken or grilled fresh sardines & seafood, staple of this region's cuisine.

Then, some big names took an interest in the winemaking potential of their native varietals & the potential of Cabernet Sauvignon in this rugged land. The Rothschilds came to invest & experiment. Relatively recently, Sir Cliff Richard, the forever young pop singer planted his land in vines to produce his first wine, this summer. These were all snapped up even before they were bottled & shipped.

However, there were those who had worked the land for generations. The grapegrowers formed cooperatives to jointly make wine for sale. With money culled from surefire sales to thirsty tourists, they built their fortunes during the tourist boom years. Now, they have re-invested their money into modernising their winery. Now, they have the means to employ talented winemakers to produce wines of some distinction & of international standard with a view for export.

2001 MONSARAZ Tinto, DOC Alentejo is a blend of several local varietals that captured my immediate attention with its sweet floral fragrance. The colour was youthful & vibrant but not dark. On the palate, well balanced with just, perhaps, a hint of soothing oak. However, the already soft tannins begs the drinker to continue drinking the wine. The finish was surprisingly long. This wine continue to hold up after being opened for 3 days. This is a wine to drink with grilled meats or even seafood. The menu items typical of the Algave. Completely without the rough edges of many country wines, this wine will be a winner with casual diners.

1999 ARAGONES, DOC Alentejo is Spanish Tempranillo adapting to Portuguese conditions, where the natives acknowleged the source of the vine - ARAGON in northern Spain. This wine, unfortunately, was too good for its own sake. Made from 100% Aragones (Tempranillo) & aged in oak barrels that dominated upon uncorking. This created a poor first impression. However, with some good areation & breathing, the potential of this wine became apparent. The fruit flavours came to the fore & the oak played in the background. The tasted better, the next day. This is a winelover's wine that require preparation & good breathing. It pays to be patient.

These are just two of a whole range of wines produced by the cooperative. If the rest are as good as these two, they should have an export winner on their hands.