Vineyards and winemaking
Alyantiju Tinto is made from Alicante Bouschet grown on Herdade Aldeia de Cima's elevated vineyards in the Serra do Mendro, where the plots rise from around 289 to 380 metres above sea level. The varied limestone, schist and diorite-derived soils, together with cooling Atlantic influence, bring freshness and definition to this naturally powerful Alentejo variety.
The grapes are selected from individual plots and vinified by Jorge Alves and António Cavalheiro. The 2018 wine was matured for nine months in new French oak, giving the dense fruit a polished frame while retaining the mineral character and freshness of the estate's upland terroir.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Deep, opaque ruby with a youthful purple-black core and a narrow garnet rim.
Nose
Concentrated blackberry, black cherry and damson are layered with violet, woodland earth, dark chocolate and finely judged notes of cedar and sweet spice.
Palate
Full-bodied and structured, with ripe dark fruit held in balance by fresh acidity and firm, finely textured tannins. Alicante Bouschet's depth is evident, but the wine avoids heaviness: mineral tension, savoury spice and restrained oak carry the fruit into a long, composed finish.
Food pairing
Serve with slow-braised beef cheek, roast venison with juniper, Iberian black pork, or smoked aubergine with lentils and rosemary. Its concentration suits deeply flavoured dishes, while the wine's freshness keeps richer sauces and slow-cooked meats in balance.
Background story
Herdade Aldeia de Cima is the Amorim family's Alentejo estate near Santana, set within a broad landscape of cork and holm oak, ancient olive trees and vineyards. LuÃsa Amorim and Francisco Rêgo have developed the property around regenerative agriculture, biodiversity and the careful recovery of the Serra do Mendro's viticultural heritage.
Alyantiju is the estate's focused interpretation of Alicante Bouschet, a variety closely associated with the modern identity of Alentejo red wine. The name evokes the region's historical form, while the limited-production cuvée combines the grape's characteristic colour and authority with the lift that comes from altitude and the estate's mosaic of soils.
