Herdade do Esporão
The Esporão Private Selection red was first released in 1987 under the name “Garrafeira”. Initially produced from the best barrels of Esporão Reserva, it now results from a blend of unique parcels from Esporão’s estates in Alentejo, combining the intensity of Herdade do Esporão with the texture of Herdade dos Perdigões and the vitality of the altitude of Lavradores in Portalegre.
Each year, we invite an artist to design the labels, blending Portuguese wine culture with art. Label by Anne Geene.
The 2019 vintage recorded ideal conditions for a raw material of excellent quality.
Vinification: Each parcel is vinified and aged separately according to the profile of each grape variety, resulting in a complete wine that reflects the diversity and richness of the Esporão territories. The Aragonez grape began alcoholic fermentation in marble lagares with foot treading and finished in concrete tanks, where it also underwent malolactic fermentation, followed by aging in 5000-liter French oak foudres. The Touriga Franca fermented in marble lagares with foot treading and aged in 500-liter French oak barrels, where it also completed malolactic fermentation and aging. Similarly, the Touriga Nacional fermented in marble lagares with foot treading and aged in 225-liter French oak barrels. The Alicante Bouschet parcels were harvested on different days and fermented separately in concrete tanks. They underwent malolactic fermentation in new 500-liter French oak barrels, where they also aged.
Aging: 18 months in 225-liter and 500-liter barrels and 5000-liter foudres, followed by 2 years in bottle. Bottled on August 16, 2021.
Winemakers: Sandra Alves & David Baverstock.
Physical-chemical parameters: Total Acidity 6.71 g/l; pH 3.5; Reducing Sugar / Baumé 2.4 g/lDespite this variety being a high yielder, the exposition of this vineyard and good drainage conditions, coupled with bunch thinning, allows for more balanced yields with concentrated berries and wines with great intensity.
Vinification: Each variety was vinified and aged separately. Syrah and
Aragonês were fermented in small open stainless steel fermenters with
regular pumpovers and foot treading employed during the fermentation
phase. Alicante is fermented in a small static closed fermenter with regular pumpovers. This is a milder fermentation regime because of the softer skin of this variety and the potential for over extraction. After pressing, the varieties are kept separate to assess their quality potential. Malolactic fermentation takes place naturally in the barrel. Ageing takes place in 30% new and 70% used one year old 225 liter French oak barrels. After 18 months ageing, with only one transfer after the completion of the malolactic fermentation, the final blends are made. Bottling was done on 7th August 2012 with only a light pre filtration and no fining.
Awards
94 pts | 2016 | 2014 | 2011 – Wine Enthusiast
93 pts | 2016 – Wine Advocate / Robert Parker
92 pts+ | 2014 – Wine Advocate / Robert Parker
93 pts | 2013 – Wine Spectator
92 pts | 2007 | 2003 – Wine Advocate / Robert Parker
18.5/20 Revista Grandes Escolhas
Allergens information
Contains sulphites.
SKU: 100167
