Deep ruby color; plum, blackcurrant, black cherry, boysenberry, black tea, herbs, spice, earthy minerality, subtle oak on the nose and palate.
Dry (0.7 RS); firm but easily approachable tannins; enough acidity to give balance (3.63 pH; 5.6 g/L TA). Full body. Meaty texture. Concentrated, elegant, impressive complexity for Quinta da Fonte’s entry-level offering. Blend of hand-picked aragonez, alicante biouschet, trincadeira, and mix of other varieties. Manual sorting followed by destemming and gentle crushing, then fermented in individually monitored vats. Fermentation and maceration temperatures adjusted to maximize potential of each batch. Half of the blend aged six months in third and fourth year 106-gallon French oak barrels. Winemakers included Charles Symington, Pedro Correia, and José Daniel Soares. 14.5% ABV
Grapes come from Symington’s 667-acre Quinta da Fonte Souto vineyard acquired in 2017. The name comes from the chestnut groves (soutos) on the estate. The vineyard lies on the slopes of the Sāo Mamede Range at an altitude of 1,600 feet in the Alentejo sub-region of Portalegre. The nearby São Mamede National Park that rises to 3,400 feet, the highest mountain range in southern Portugal. The Alentejo DOC is Portugal’s largest wine region in terms of production and sales. Symington’s purchase was the family’s first purchase outside of the Douro Valley.
According to Rupert Symington: “Quinta da Fonte Souto is a wonderful terroir in one of the finest wine making sub-regions of Portugal. We are excited to know that the wines we have made at our estate near Portalegre are of the exacting quality standards that we aspire to in our top Douro estates, while displaying distinct characteristics of the local varietals and soils.The superb quality of this mountain vineyard combined with the success of the region is an ideal platform from which to launch our first red and white wines from outside the Douro.”
Symington Quinta da Fonte Souto Florão Red, Vinho Regional Alentejano 2021 is a fresh, hedonistic delight at excellent price for a red wine of this sophistication—another example of the great values Portuguese wines offer. Full bodied, dense, concentrated. Coats the palate in rich red and black fruits with tasty tannins and appropriate acidity. Serious Alentejano red overdelivers. $19-23
Pairing—Meat, game. Porco preto (Portuguese black pork), roast suckling pig, roasted pork, grilled chorizo; game birds, duck breast with porto wine sauce. Peppered filet mignon, beef stew, beef fajitas, grilled beef with herbs. Bean stew, cassoulet, tomato-based vegetarian dishes; spicy chickpea and vegetable dishes. Indian-spiced dishes, beef vindaloo; Asian cuisines with medium spices, bulgogi. Tapas, appetizers with fruits, nuts, cheeses, bread, cured meats. Cheese—Black Bomber Extra Mature Cheddar (Welsh) and aged manchego are highly recommended; aged gouda, aged cheddar (avoid medium or mild), Queso de la Mancha, Queso Zamorano, Queso Ibérico.
Symington Quinta da Fonte Souto website
