Quinta do Mouro "Zagalos" Tinto Reserva '14

Quinta do Mouro is the icon of Alentejo. Located in Estremoz, Miguel Louro works with 33 hectares of vines, planted to different varieties and spread among several parcels. The wines of Estremoz, in the talented hands of Louro, walk that fine line. These are wines of power but with the freshness that Estremoz can bring. Miguel Louro's touch is clearly reflected in his wines—temperamental yet balanced and full of charisma, energy, and finesse. Let us remind you, when deciding between using his poker earnings to buy a sports car or a fixer-upper quinta in Estremoz, Miguel chose the latter, a bold move by someone in his twenties. Over the years, he has fixed up the quinta, but, more importantly, he has worked hard to grow grapes that convey freshness within a very warm region. Miguel knows what he wants and never falls short of achieving it, and this shows in the high-quality, world-class wines that he makes. The Zagalos Tinto Reserva is named after the Zagalos family that originally owned the quinta. The wine is a blend of Trincadeira, Aragonez (Tempranillo), Alicante Bouschet, and Cabernet Sauvignon, grown in soils rich in schist and limestone. After fermentation in tank, the wine is aged for a year in used French and Portuguese oak barrels. Grown in a Mediterranean-continental climate, the wine maintains wonderful acidity to complement such robust flavors. Freshly ripened flavors of both red and black fruit emerge from the nose to the palate, with hints of spice and round tannins. Miguel Louro's wines are truly groundbreaking, representing the best of Alentejo.