2017 Quinta da Fonte Souto, Florão Tinto, Portalegre, Alentejo, Portugal
£11.95, The Wine Society, 01438-741177, thewinesociety.com
Quinta da Fonte Souto is a new acquisition by the Symington family, owners of the heroic Port brands Graham’s, Dow’s, Warre’s, Cockburn’s and Quinta do Vesuvio. Unlike their epic Douro properties, this incredible property is situated in Portalegre, in the Alentejo region, due east of Lisbon, on the Spanish border. The area has a unique climate, thanks to its 500 metre altitude on the slopes of the São Mamede range, and I visited the property in the summer while on holiday in Portugal.
My sneak preview of the portfolio of wines was an eye-opener and this inexpensive red, with its chic packaging and knockout flavour, is the pick of the bunch. With a decent 40,000 bottles made, every MoneyWeek reader can get involved this week, and this is the UK scoop on this epic red wine. Made with the merest kiss of oak and using a complex, layered blend made up of trincadeira, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, alicante bouschet and aragonez (tempranillo), this is a delicious, finely textured, fruits-of-the-forest-style wine with amazing freshness and vibrancy and these characteristics are a result of the estate’s unique location. Faint whispers of florals and pine trees accompany the sleek fruit tones and the result is a classically balanced wine with precise regional expression. I love this style and the value afforded here is incredible.
Matthew Jukes is a winner of the International Wine & Spirit Competition’s Communicator of the Year (matthewjukes.com)