2016 Mouchao Licoroso Tonel Aged, Alentejo, Portugal

This is Alentejo’s version of port. Produced at Mouchão since the winery was built in 1901, using exclusively Alicante Bouschet grapes and all the traditional winemaking methods synonymous with Mouchão’s century-old winery.  This distinctive fortified wine is matured for at least six years, in old 2,200L toneis sweetened by decades of use.

The best Alicante Bouschet fruit is hand-harvested and foot-trodden in traditional open troughs, known as lagares. The crushed grapes are gently macerated prior to and throughout the fermentation process.  When the desired alcohol content is reached and once the aromatic and extractive objectives have been achieved, clean spirit – a form of purified brandy – is added to arrest the fermentation, thereby maintaining a certain level of sweetness whilst boosting the alcohol content to around 20% Vol.

Tasting Note: Complex dark fruit, spicey with nutty black chocolate. Its warm notes of cocoa, tobacco and black fruit are finely balanced with fresh tones of mint and eucalyptus.

Region: Alentejo, Portugal

Blend: Alicante Bouschet