Vineyards and winemaking
The 2019 Handcrafted Tinto blends Touriga Nacional and Syrah grown on Quinta da Boa Esperança’s clay-limestone vineyards in Zibreira. Sunshine provides ripeness, while the Atlantic Ocean, less than 20 kilometres away, moderates temperatures and gives the wine a welcome line of freshness.
All fruit was harvested by hand into small cases, then fully destemmed and given a 48-hour cold maceration at 8°C. Fermentation followed at a controlled 24°C, with a small part of the blend later resting in second-use French barrels to add integration and a restrained savoury layer.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Concentrated garnet-red, bright through the core.
Nose
Black cherry, mulberry and violet meet black pepper, cocoa nib and a discreet touch of toast.
Palate
Supple and lively, with plum and red berry fruit framed by fine tannins. Floral Touriga Nacional and peppery Syrah sit in close balance, while gentle oak rounds the texture without taking over. The finish is smooth, earthy and persistent.
Food pairing
An excellent partner for chateaubriand, sirloin or porterhouse, especially with a red-wine jus. Away from steak, try it with lamb chops, venison sausages or aubergine stuffed with lentils and herbs.
Background story
This bespoke wine was shaped with the sommelier and chef team of a fine-dining restaurant group known for steak. The collaboration sought a versatile table red: polished enough for restaurant service, vivid enough to refresh the palate and structured for a range of cuts.
Quinta da Boa Esperança’s modern chapter began when Artur and Eva Gama took on the ancestral family property in 2014. Handcrafted Tinto places that estate character in a deliberately gastronomic frame, joining Portuguese Touriga Nacional with Syrah.
