Refined, elegant 100% Syrah from a high-elevation vineyard (for Portugal). This is their flagship Syrah effort in their limited Varietal Series. Symington’s Quinta da Fonte Souto bottlings already are noteworthy in white wine; this is a solid element of their emerging red wine program. $45-50
The Symingtons acquired this 512-acre Quinta da Fonte Souto estate in 2017. The name comes from the chestnut groves (soutos) on the estate. The vineyard lies on the slopes of the São Mamede Range at an altitude of 1,600 feet in the Alentejo sub-region of Portalegre. The nearby São Mamede Natural Park rises to 3,400 feet, the highest mountain range in southern Portugal. The altitude creates a cooler microclimate that allows the Syrah to ripen slowly and gracefully while retaining natural acidity.
The Alentejo DOC is Portugal’s largest wine region by production and sales, best known for rich reds and soft, easy-drinking whites. Symington’s purchase was the family’s first land acquisition outside of the Douro Valley. Its altitude-driven freshness sets it apart from the broader, sun-baked profiles typical of many lowland Alentejo wines.
Symington Family Estates is a premier family-owned wine company. They are the largest vineyard owners in the Douro Valley, managing 26 distinct quintas (estates) covering almost 6,000 acres—some 2,500 under vines. They make more than one-third of the world’s premium ports. While dominant in Porto, Symington expanded into table wines in the late 1990s.
The Symingtons can trace their wine presence back to 1652. Walter Maynard was one of the first British merchants to ship port from Oporto. John Atkinson arrived in 1814 and married into the Maynard family. Scottish-born Andrew James Symington arrived in 1882. He married into the Atkinson family and began an aggressive expansion, gaining full ownership of Warre & Co. in 1908, followed by Dow’s. Successive generations continue the aggressive expansion, with their acquisition of Graham’s in 1970 securing their position as a premium powerhouse in the wine world.
Symington Family Estates Quinta da Fonte Souto Syrah 2021: Deep purple color; damson plum, blackcurrant, cardamom, pepper, black tea, dark chocolate, licorice, forest floor, pine needles on the nose and palate.
Dry; supple, dusty tannins; measured, balancing acidity. Full body; rich, dense, concentrated in the mouth. The initial attack quickly signals you’re sipping a big boy red, but it is rich and tasty rather than burly and brutish. Wine is 100% Syrah from a high-elevation Portuguese vineyard and made by a world-class producer. 14.5% ABV
Pairing—Grilled or roasted lamb with rosemary and thyme; peppered beef tenderloin, short ribs; Iberian black pork (porco preto) or other marbled pork cuts. Duck breast with port or red-wine reduction, venison with dark, savory sauces, wild boar. Lamb or beef stews. Mushroom ragù, eggplant with tomato, herbs, and smoked paprika. Cheese—Aged Manchego, Zamorano, Idiazábal; aged Gouda, mature Cheddar; Comté; Grana Padano, Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Toscano.
Symington Quinta da Fonte Souto website
