Mouchão Tinto 2016

Grape Varieties: Alicante Bouschet (85%) and Trincadeira (15%).

Tasting Notes: Intense garnet color, aromas of black fruit, plum jam, mint, ripe olives, with fresh notes of mint, eucalyptus and slightly green stems. Wonderfully fresh and structured, yet balanced and with expressive and elegant tannins ensuring longevity.

Enology: At Mouchão we vinify ALL red wines in open stone presses. Complete bunches, with stalks, are included in the maceration process, so the time of harvest is especially critical, as it is necessary to find a delicate balance between sugars, acids, overall phenolic maturation (color, tannins, etc.) as well as the lignification of the stalk. The complete bunches, picked by hand, are transported in 20kg boxes to the winery, where they are trodden on foot in presses and left to ferment for approximately 4 to 6 days. This young wine will have its malolactic fermentation in the autumn, in large wooden barrels (5,000L) In mid-winter it is filtered after which it remains in stage without any intervention for about 3 years. Once bottled, it ages in our cellars for another 3 years before launching.

Viticulture: Responsible care of the vine is critical to ensure the best fruit and keep our bees healthy. The different vineyard plots and varieties are harvested separately. Alicante Bouschet and Trincadeira come from old vines around 25 years old on well-drained alluvial soils of the Carrapetos vineyard. Since 2010 the average yield of this vineyard has been a meager 4,03 T/Ha, thus contributing to a significant concentration. A more mature and intense Alicante Bouschet is also included, which comes from the vineyard of Dourada, with clayey Mediterranean soils (with limestone profiles) and with an age of 17 years in the harvest.

Serving Suggestions: Decant or open 12 to 24 hours before serving. At its best potential until 2030. Consume at a temperature of 17ºC, with grilled meat or game dishes.

Winemaker: Paulo Laureano