Duquesa Maria Superior, Red, Portalegre, Alentejo

Kernowine is the co-importer of Santos & Seixo wines into the UK - please email del@kernowine.co.uk for more information.

Wine Type: Red

Grape(s): Aragonez (Tempranillo) 55%, Trincadeira 20% and Touriga Nacional 25%

Country: Portugal

Region: Alentejo

Organic: No

Vegan: Yes

ABV: 14%

Winery: This wine is produced by Santos & Seixo in Portugal. The company was set up by entrepreneurs Alzira dos Santos and Pedro Seixo in 2010. The first wines were released to the market in 2012 and 2013 from the Santos da Casa brand from grapes grown in Alentejo and the Douro. They then bought their first vineyards in the Douro in 2018, which was followed by the purchase of winery Encosta do Sobral in Tejo the following year. In 2020 they bought Quinta do Outeiro in the Baixo Corgo sub-region of the Douro - with 25 hectares of vineyard and a new wine cellar. They now have 45 hectares between that winery and Quinta do Cevêr, increasing their processing capacity to 600,000 litres a year. 

All the group's facilities are equipped with LED lights, the vineyards are treated with the minimum possible chemicals and about 90% of the bottles are light weight glass bottles. The company promotes local employment and creates opportunities to grow professionally within the group and at the same time as investing in professional training programs.

Winemaking: The grapes were grown on grey limestone soils. The grapes are 100% destemmed and have a two day cold soak. Alcoholic fermentation took place in stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature of 24C, with malolactic fermentation completed. 50% of the batch was aged for six months in used French and American oak barrels.

Tasting Notes: Concentrated ruby in colour and with good aromatic intensity where notes of wild blackberries, black plums and light toast stand out. In the mouth it presents soft and elegant tannins and a good acidity that gives it freshness. Long finish with complexity.

Food pairing: Pair with cod, octopus, mushroom risotto or wild boar.