Incógnito
The mystery name refers to a time when Syrah was not permitted in Alentejo. In 1991, we were the first ones to plant Syrah in the Alentejo, choosing rootstock from southern Rhone clones. Today, our range consists of 3 different 100% Syrah varietals. Starting with the entry level is our popular ‘Cortes de Cima Syrah’, which is bottled every vintage. Next, we move up a notch both in concentration and quality, to the mid-level range – ‘Homenagem a Hans Christian Andersen’, bottled in most vintages. We culminate at the top, with our reserve quality labeling, the iconic ‘Incógnito’, only bottled in exceptional years, and with all the Hallmarks of a great world class Syrah.
Current Vintage: 2009
Click here for PDFs of past vintages: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009
Vintage 2009
An exceptionally cold winter, one of the coldest in 19 years, and a rare snowfall in January! Rainfall was normal at 500mm, mostly concentrated in the winter months, followed by a dry and warm spring and summer. Budbreak on 26th February was an early record. Unstable weather during flowering in May resulted in uneven pollination and low fruit set in some varieties. A very hot period in early August when temperatures averaged 25º kick-started the exceptionally early harvest date.
- Appellation:
- Vinho Regional Alentejano
- Varieties:
- 100% Syrah
- Total Acids:
- 5.6
- Final pH:
- 3.58
- Residual Sugars:
- 3.2
- Alcohol:
- 14%
- Barrel ageing:
- 6 months French Oak
- Grown, produced and bottled at the family estate
- Bottled unfined and unfiltered in
- July 2010
- Total production:
- 9.600 bottles (75 cl)
- Release Date:
- November 2012

Awards
- Gold Medal
- - Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2012
- Gold Medal
- - Syrah du Monde 2012
- Silver Medal
- - Intl Wine & Spirit Competition – UK 2012
Ratings
- 90
- - Robert Parker
Reviews
Remarkably graceful in this big vintage, but it still adds a layer or two of depth. Bright and elegant, with some grip and intensity on the finish, it is quite charming, with trademark gamey nuances up front. - Robert Parker
Track Record
2008 Vintage – Silver Medal – Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2011
2008 Vintage – Silver Medal – Vinalies International 2011
2008 Vintage – Silver Medal – Challenge International du Vin 2011
2005 Vintage – Gold Medal – Berliner Wein Trophy – Germany 2009
2005 Vintage – Gold Medal – Vinalies Internationales – France 2009
2005 Vintage – Gold Medal (BEST IN CLASS) – Intl Wine & Spirit Competition – UK 2008
2005 Vintage – Gold Medal – Mundus Vini – Germany
2005 Vintage – Silver Medal – International Wine Challenge – London 2008
2005 Vintage – Silver Medal – Concours Mondial du Vin – Bruxelles 2008
2005 Vintage – Silver Medal – Syrah du Monde – France 2008
2005 Vintage – Silver Medal – AWC Vienna – Austria 2008
2005 Vintage – 3rd Place – ‘Essência do Vinho’ International Competition – Top Ten Portuguese Wines
2004 Vintage – 90 – Robert Parker
2004 Vintage – Gold Medal – International Wine Challenge – London 2006
2004 Vintage – Gold Medal – Concours Mondial du Vin – Bruxelles 2006
2004 Vintage – Silver Medal (BEST IN CLASS) – Intl Wine & Spirit Competition – UK 2006
2003 Vintage – Gold Medal (BEST IN CLASS) – Intl Wine & Spirit Competition – UK 2005
2003 Vintage – Gold Medal – Mundus Vini – Germany 2005
2003 Vintage – Silver Medal – Concours Mondial du Vin – Bruxelles 2005
2003 Vintage – Silver Medal – Vinalies Internationales – France 2005
2002 Vintage – 90 – Robert Parker
2002 Vintage – Grand Gold – Concorso Enologico Internazionale Vinitaly 2004
2002 Vintage – Gold Medal – Japan Wine Challenge 2004
2002 Vintage – Gold Medal – Concours Mondial du Vin – Bruxelles 2004
2002 Vintage – Silver Medal – S.F. Intl Wine Competition – California 2004
2002 Vintage – Silver Medal – International Wine Challenge – London 2004
2002 Vintage – Silver Medal – Intl Wine & Spirit Competition – UK 2004
2002 Vintage – Silver Medal – Mundus Vini – Germany 2004
2001 Vintage – Trophée Excellence – Citadelles du Vin, Bordeaux, 2003
2001 Vintage – Silver Medal – International Wine Challenge, UK, 2002
2000 Vintage – Gold Medal – Challenge Intl du Vin, Bordeaux, 2002
2000 Vintage – Top Ten – ‘Wine Discoveries’ Favourites of the Intl. Press, Vinexpo Bordeaux 2001
2000 Vintage – Gold Medal – Mundus Vini, Germany 2002
2000 Vintage – Wine of the Year 2002 – Gula Magazine, Brazil
1999 Vintage – Gold Medal – International Wine Challenge UK, 2001
1999 Vintage – Red Wine of the Year 2001 – The Independent daily newspaper UK
1999 Vintage – 90 points – Wine Spectator
1998 Vintage – Gold Medal – Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, 2000
Incógnito
Terms & Conditions
- All orders will be confirmed by return e-mail.
- The value for the minimum order is 100.00 Eur.
- Payment must be made by advance check, bank transfer, or paypal upon delivery.
- Prices are inclusive of sales tax (IVA), and delivery charges within Continental Portugal only.
- We only accept orders for Continental Portugal and Portuguese Islands.
- We reserve the right to refuse any order due to availability of stock, or for any other reason, and customers must be over 18 years of age.
Find a store
In 1988, a Danish-American couple set out in a sailboat to find a place to start a family, plant a vineyard, and make wine... and thus begins our story of Cortes de Cima Family Vineyards, one of Portugal`s leading wineries. Capturing the abundant Alentejan sunshine in the vineyard, our wines are packed full of rich, concentrated fruit, and balanced by soft, ripe, tannins.
