Cortes de Cima "Chaminé" Vinho Regional Alentejano Tinto '21

Cortes de Cima is based in Vidigueira, in Portugal’s Alentejo region, an area better known for warmth and generosity than restraint. In recent years, however, the estate has entered a compelling new chapter under the direction of Anna Jørgensen, who took over from her parents five years ago and has guided Cortes de Cima toward a more thoughtful, regenerative future.

Since the end of 2019, Anna has shifted the estate away from the more conventional and intensive farming of the past and toward holistic, regenerative, and organic agriculture. The goal is a return to the roots of the old farm, guided by biodynamic principles, old traditions, genetic diversity, and the agricultural heritage of the region. Animals have been brought back to the property, polyculture is encouraged, and the estate is being reshaped into what Anna describes as a “green lung” in the Alentejo.

This philosophy carries directly into the wines. Cortes de Cima is now focused on producing wines that speak clearly of place, with the quality of the fruit established first in the vineyard and then preserved carefully in the cellar. In a warm climate, the goal is freshness and elegance rather than sheer power, an approach that looks back to the pre-1990s Alentejo, before opulence became the dominant style.

The Chaminé line represents the estate’s most immediate and accessible wines, and this Tinto is a terrific introduction to the new direction at Cortes de Cima. It is a blend of Syrah, Touriga Franca, Trincadeira, and Alicante Bouschet, fermented naturally with 30% whole clusters. The wine is aged first for one year in used French barrels, followed by an additional year in tank, allowing it to retain both its texture and its freshness.

This is a pure and beautifully expressive Alentejo red, with complex aromas of dark cherry, tomato paste, and wild herbs. The palate is soft, bright, and savory, showing red fruit, menthol, and herbal notes, with enough freshness to keep everything lifted. It is a phenomenal food wine, especially with dishes such as vegetarian stuffed peppers, or lamb kofta.