2015 Tiago Teles Maria de Graça

Region: Bairrada < Portugal  
Grapes: Alfrocheiro, Alicante buchet
Vineyard/Cellar Stats: 15 – 30 year old vines, clay-limestone soil; grapes are co-fermented, then aged for 10 months in stainless; minimal SO2 at bottling; 12.5% ABV
Winemaker: Tiego Teles

It had always been Tiago’s dream to own his own vineyards, and in 2012 he got the opportunity, when, in partnership with his father, he planted himself in the Bairrada (one of Portugal’s best growing regions) and bought back the land that had previously belonged to his uncle.  And now he’s making a few cuvees of deeply personal wine, with local grapes, minimal intervention and amazing freshness, thanks to the proximity of the sea just 20km away. Since we’re always looking for wines with lower alcohol and brightness, it’s exciting to discover this delicious Portuguese contender for the warm weather red rotation. You get vibrant dark cherry aromatics, a silky mouthfeel with a touch of spritz, then more red fruits, plus earth, mineral and a long, balanced finish.